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LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 
Class       Q  23 

!<yOD  uT  _^s 


THE 

CHRIST  OF   CYNEWULF 

21  ipoem  in  Gbree  parts 


THE  ADVENT,   THE  ASCENSION,  AND 
THE   LAST  JUDGMENT 


TRANSLATED  INTO  ENGLISH  PROSE 
BY 

CHARLES    HUNTINGTON  WHITMAN 

Fellow  in  English  of  Yale  University 


BOSTON,  U.S.A. 
GINN   &   COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS 

1900 


<•>- 


NERAL 


Copyright,  1900,  by 
CHARLES    HUNTINGTON   WHITMAN 


ALL    RIGHTS    RESERVED 


TO 

PROFESSOR   ALBERT    S.   COOK 


11670 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/cynewulfchristofOOcynerich 


PREFACE. 


My  purpose  in  the  present  translation  is  so  to  combine 
faithfulness  with  literary  quality  as  to  afford  reasonable 
satisfaction  to  both  the  specialist  and  the  general  student 
of  literature.  In  my  diction  I  have  endeavored  to  avoid 
unintelligible  archaisms,  and  have  sought  after  simple 
idioms,  with  a  preference  for  words  of  Germanic  origin. 

All  things  considered,  prose  has  been  adopted  as  the 
most  satisfactory  medium  of  translation.  Verse  may  be 
the  ideal  form,  but  it  requires  an  ideal  translator;  and  with 
the  exception  of  Tennyson's  version  of  The  Battle  of  Br u- 
nanburh,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  others,  I  can  think  of 
none  that  are  at  all  adequate.  .  Nor  is  prose  without  its 
peculiar  advantages ;  in  at  least  one  important  respect  it 
is  superior  to  verse,  since  its  flexibility  offers  a  more  facile 
medium  for  reproducing  that  metrical  variety  which  is  one 
of  the  principal  charms  of  Old  English  poetry. 

Up  to  the  present  time  there  have  appeared  three 
complete  translations  of  this  poem  —  Thorpe's  in  his 
edition  of  the  Codex  Exonie?isis,  fiollancz's  in  his  two 
editions  of  the  Christ,  and  Grein's  in  his  Dichtungen  der 
Angelsachsen.  I  have  made  free  use  of  these  translations, 
and  am  indebted  to  them  for  an  occasional  word  or  phrase. 

The  line-numbering  follows  the  original,  which  neces- 
sarily causes  irregular  intervals  between  the  marginal 
numbers.  Square  brackets  indicate  words  inserted  by 
the  translator  for  the  sake  of  clearness. 


-9/ 


vi  PREFACE. 

This  translation  was  undertaken  at  the  suggestion  of 
Professor  Albert  S.  Cook,  and  closely  conforms  in  read- 
ings and  punctuation  to  his  recent  edition  of  the  Christ. 
Through  his  kindness  I  have  been  furnished  with  the 
proof-sheets  as  needed,  and  have  thereby  found  my  labor 
materially  lessened.  Specific  acknowledgments  to  this 
edition  are  usually  made  in  the  foot-notes,  but  many  of  the 
Biblical  parallels  come  from  the  same  source.  Through- 
out my  work  I  have  had  the  benefit  of  Professor  Cook's 
ripe  scholarship  and  sound  judgment ;  for  his  unfailing 
kindness  and  helpfulness  I  wish  to  express  my  deep  sense 
of  gratitude.  It  also  gives  me  pleasure  to  acknowledge 
my  indebtedness  to  Mr.  Robert  K.  Root,  who  has  care- 
fully read  the  whole  of  my  manuscript ;  and  to  Dr. 
Charles  G.  Osgood  and  Dr.  Frank  H.  Chase  for  various 
helpful  suggestions. 

The  introduction  to  Professor  Cook's  volume  relieves 
me  from  attempting  a  literary  appreciation.  Suffice  it  to 
'say  that,  as  the  beauties  of  the  Christ  have  gradually 
unfolded  before  me,  I  have  come  to  feel  that  it  is  the 
most  spiritual  expression  of  an  age  in  which  poetry,  vital 
and  genuine,  if  somewhat  unformed,  welled  directly  from 
the  deeps  of  man's  nature. 

If  this  translation  should  serve  to  win  even  a  few 
readers  to  an  ardent  and  appreciative  love  of  Old  English 
verse,  the  author  would  feel  amply  rewarded  ;  yet  the 
fitting  and  adequate  recompense  of  such  labor  as  it  has 
cost  lies  in  the  disclosure  to  the  soul  of  the  worker  of  a 
beauty  and  truth  hitherto  unapprehended. 

Yale  University, 

April  12,  1900. 


- 


THE     CHRIST, 


Part  I. — The  Advent. 

to  the  King. 

Thou  art  the  corner-stone  which  the  builders  once 
rejected  in  their  work  ;  fitting  indeed  is  it  for  Thee, 
O  King  of  glory,  to  become  the  head  of  this  noble 
temple,  and  to  join  in  bond  secure  the  broad  walls  of 
adamantine  rock,  so  that  throughout  the  cities  of 
earth  all  things  endowed  with  sight  may  wonder1 
evermore.  Reveal  then,  righteous  and  triumphant 
One,  through  Thy  wisdom,  Thine  own  handiwork, 
and  leave  wall  firm  against  wall.  The'  work  hath 
need  that  the  Master  Builder,  the  King  Him- 
self, should  come  and  forthwith  restore  the  house 
that  beneath  its  roof  hath  fallen  into  ruin.  He 
formed  the  body,  the  limbs  of  clay  ;  and  now  is  it 
time  for  Him,  the  Prince  of  life,  to  deliver  this  mis- 
erable host  from  their  enemies,  the  wretched  from 
their  fears,  as  He  full  oft  hath  done. 

1  The  construction  in  lines  7  and  8  is  largely  conjectural.  Cf. 
Cook's  Christ,  p.  74. 

I 


2  THE   ADVENT. 

O  Ruler  and  righteous  King,  Thou  who  holdest 

20  the  key  and  openest  life,  bless  us  with  victory,  with 
that  glorious  success  denied  unto  him  whose  work 
availeth  naught !  Verily  in  our  need  do  we  speak 
these  words  :  We  beseech  1  Him  who  created  man 
that  He  choose  not  to  pronounce  judgment  upon  us 

25  who,  sad  at  heart,  sit  yearning  in  prison  for  the 
sun's  joyous  course  until  such  time  as  the  Prince  of 
life  reveal  light  unto  us,  become  our  soul's  defense, 
and  compass  the  feeble  mind  with  splendor  ;  of  all 

30  this  may  He  make  us  worthy,  we  whom  He  admitted 
to  glory,  when,  deprived  of  our  heritage,  we  were 
doomed  to  turn  in  wretchedness  unto  this  narrow 
land.  Therefore  he  who  speaks  truth  may  say  that 
when  the  race  of  men  was  turned  away  [from  God], 

35  He  saved  it.  Young  was  the  virgin,  a  sinless 
maiden,  whom  He  chose  for  His  mother  ;  it  was 
brought  to  pass  without  the  embraces  of  man  that 
the  bride  became  great  with  child.2     Never  before 

40  or  after  in  this  world  was  there  conception  of  woman 
like  unto  that  ;  it  was  secret,  a  mystery  of  the  Lord. 
All  spiritual  grace  overspread  the  regions  of  earth  ; 
then  was  many  a  wise  saying  illumined  by  the  Lord 
of  life,  such  ancient  teaching,  prophetic  song,  as  of  old 

1  Manuscript  defective  at  lines  23  and  24.    Cf.  Cook's  Christ,  p.  77. 

2  The  phrase  frurh  bearnes  gebyrd  omitted  in  translation. 


THE   ADVENT.  3 

lay  wrapped  in  darkness,  when  the  Ruler  came  who  45 
magnifieth  the  course 1  of  their  words  who  wisely  de- 
sire to  praise  without  stint  the  name  of  the  Creator. 

0  vision  of  peace,  holy  Jerusalem,  best  of  royal  50 
thrones,  city  of  Christ,  native  abode  of  angels,  in 
thee   alone    the  souls    of    the  righteous    rest    ever, 
rejoicing  in  their  glory !     Never  shall  trace  of  sin 
be  brought  to  light  in   that  dwelling-place,  but  all   55 
iniquity,  all  curse  and  strife,  shall  flee  far  from  thee. 
Thou  art  gloriously  full  of   holy  joy,  as  thy  name 
bears  witness.     Behold    now  thyself  how  the  wide 
creation  round  about  and  the  vault  of  heaven  regard  60 
thee  far   and    near  on   every  side  ; 2   the  King   of 
heaven  seeketh  thee  in  His  course,  yea,  cometh  Him- 
self and  taketh  up  His  abode  in  thee,  as  long  ago 
wise  prophets  spake  in  words,  when  they  proclaimed 
the  birth  of  Christ,  told  it  for  thy  joy,  thou  chief  est  65 
of  cities.     Now  is  the  Child  come,  born  to  interpret 
and   fulfill3   the  works  of  the  Jews.     He  bringeth 
thee  joy ;    He   looseneth    thy  bonds ;    He  draweth 
nigh 4  to  men,  for  He  knoweth  their  wants  —  how 
the  wretched  must  needs  await  succor.  7o 

1  With  evident  reference  to  2  Thess.  3.  1. 

2  This   interpretation    does   not  conform  to  the  Antiphon.     Cf. 
Cook's  Christ,  p.  83. 

3  To  wyrpe,  the  noun  suggesting  the  pregnant  sense  of  '  trans- 
form.' 4  Reading  genehwafr  with  Cook. 


4  THE   ADVENT. 

O  thou  joy  of  women  in  heavenly  glory,  fairest  of 
all  maidens  throughout  the  regions  of  earth,  so  far 
as  ocean-dwellers  have  ever  learned,  reveal  to  us 
the    mystery   that    came   to   thee   from    the    skies, 

75  how  thou  didst  ever  conceive  so  that  a  child  might 
be  born,  and  yet  hadst 1  not  at  all  carnal  intercourse 
after  the  manner  of  men  !  Of  a  truth  we  have  never 
heard  that  in  days  of  old  there  came  to  pass  such  a 

80  thing  as  thou  didst  receive  by  special  grace,  nor  may 
we  look  for  such  an  event  in  time  to  come.  Truly  a 
noble  faith  dwelt  in  thee,  for  thou  didst  bear  within 
thy  womb  the  Lord  of  glory,  and  yet  thy  splendid 

85  virginity  was  not  defiled.  All  the  children  of  men,  as 
they  sow  in  tears,  even  thus  they  reap  —  they  bring 
forth  unto  death.  Then  spake  the  blessed  maiden, 
the  holy  Mary,  ever  full  of  triumph  :  *  Why  marvel 

90  ye  thus,  why  grieve  ye  and  sorrowfully  lament,  ye 
sons  and  daughters  of  Salem  ?  Ye  ask  in  curiosity 
how  I  preserved  my  virginity,  my  chastity,  and  yet 
became  the  mother  of  God's  illustrious  Son  ?    Verily 

95  the  secret  is  not  known  unto  men,  but  Christ  declared 
that  in  David's  beloved  daughter  all  the  guilt  of  Eve 
is  blotted  out,  the  curse  removed,  and  the  weaker 

100  sex  Cxalted.  Hope  hath  arisen  that  a  blessing  amid 
the  joy  of  heavenly  angels,  with  the  Father  of  right- 

1  Lit.  'knewest'  » 


THE  ADVENT.  5 

eousness,  may  now  abide  for  both  men  and  women 
evermore  through  all  eternity.'  / 

Lo  !  Thou  Splendor  of  the  dayspring,  fairest  of 
angels  sent  to  men  upon  earth,  Thou  Radiance  of  105 
the  Sun  of  righteousness,  bright  beyond  the  stars', 
Thou  of  Thy  very  self  dost  illumine  all  the  tides  of 
time !     Even  as  Thou,  God  begotten  of  God,  Son 
of  the  true   Father,  didst  ever  dwell  without  begin-  no 
ning  in  the  glory  of  heaven,  so  Thine  own  handi- 
work in  its  present  need  imploreth  Thee  with  con- 
fidence that  Thou  send  us  the  bright  sun,  and  come 
in  Thy  very  person  to  enlighten  those  who  have  long  115 
been  covered  with  murky  cloud,  and  sitting  here  in 
darkness  and  eternal  night,  shrouded  in  sins,  have 
been  forced  to  endure  the  shadow  of  death.    Now  in 
the  fulness  of  hope  we  believe  in  the  salvation  brought 
to  men  through  the  Word  of  God,  who  was  in  the  be-  120 
ginning  co-eternal  with  God  the  Father  almighty,  and 
afterward  became  flesh  without  blemish,  being  born 
of  the  virgin  as  a  help  for  the  afflicted.     God  appeared 
among  us  without  sin  ;  the  mighty  Son  of  God  and  125 
the  Son  of  Man  dwelt  together  in  harmony  among 
mankind.       Wherefore  it   is  right    that   we   should 
ever  give  thanks  by  our  deeds *  unto  the  Lord  of 

1  The  rendering  of  bi  gewyrhtum  is  here  somewhat  doubtful. 


6  THE  ADVENT. 

victory,  for  that  He  was  willing  to   send   Himself 
unto  us. 

i3o  0  God  of  spirits,  how  wisely  and  how  rightly  wast 
Thou  named  Emmanuel,  as  the  angel  first  called  it 
iri  Hebrew,  which,  fully  interpreted  in  its  hidden 
meaning,  is  :   '■  Now   is    God    Himself  with  us,  the 

135  Guardian  of  the  skies  ! '  Even  so  of  yore  ancient 
men  foretold  the  coming  of  the  King  of  kings,  the 
spotless  Priest.  Thus  long  ago  the  great  Melchise- 
dec,  wise  of  spirit,  revealed  the  divine  majesty  of 

140  the  eternal  Ruler.  He  was  the  bringer  of  laws  and 
precepts  to  those  who  had  long  looked  for  His 
advent ;  for  it  was  promised  them  that  by  the  power 
of  the  Spirit  the  Son  of  the  Creator  would  Him- 

145  self  pass  through  the  regions  of  earth,  and  visit  the 
lowest  depths.  Now  were  they  waiting  patiently  in 
captivity  until  the  Son  of  God  should  come  unto  them 
in  their  sorrow.     And  thus  they  spake,  prostrated 

150  by  suffering:  'Come  now  Thyself,  high  King  of 
heaven.  Bring  salvation  unto  us  wretched  prisoners, 
worn  out  with  weeping,  with  bitter  burning  tears. 
In  Thee  alone  is  relief  for  those  in  dire  need.      Seek1 

155  us  here,  captives  sad  of  heart  ;  leave  not2  behind 
Thee;  when  Thou  goest  hence,  a  multitude  so  great ; 

1  Reading  gesece  with  Gollancz.       2  Reading  ne  lat  with  Gollancz. 


THE   ADVENT.  7 

but  do  Thou  royally  manifest  Thy  compassion  upon 
us,  O  Christ  our  Savior,  Prince  of  glory  ;  let  not  the 
accursed  have  dominion  over  us.  Leave  unto  us  the 
eternal  joy  of  Thy  glory,  that  those  whom  Thou  didst  160 
first  create  with  Thine  hands  may  worship  Thee,  the 
radiant  King  of  hosts,  who  dwellest  eternally  on  high 
with  God  the  Father.' 

[Mary\    'Alas  my  Joseph,  son  of  Jacob,  descend- 
ant of  the  great  king  David,  art  thou  bound  to  break  i65 
off  thy  firm  troth  and  forsake  my  love  ? ' 

[Joseph],  '  I  am  full  deeply  troubled,  bereft  of  my 
good  name ;  on  thy  account  I  have  heard  many 
words,  boundless  causes  of  grief,1  taunts  and  con-  i7o 
tumely  ;  they  utter  insults  and  many  reproaches 
against  me.  Sad  in  spirit  I  must  needs  pour  out 
my  tears.  God  alone2  can  easily  heal  the  sorrow 
of  my  heart  and  comfort  me  in  my  misery.  Alas 
young  damsel,  maiden  Mary  ! '  i75 

[Mary\    'Why  grievest  thou   and    criest    out    in 
sorrow  ?     Never  have  I  found  in  thee  any  fault,  or 
cause  for  suspicion   that   thou  hast   wrought   evil  ; 
and  yet  thou  speakest  these  words  as  if  thou  thyself     - 
wert  filled  with  every  sin  and  iniquity.'  180 

1  Lit.  '  griefs.' 

2  So  the  sense  seems  to  require,  though  the  word  is  lacking  in 
the  text. 


8  THE  ADVENT. 

[Joseph].  ■  I  have  endured  too  much  misery  because 
of  this  child-bearing.  How  can  I  refute  their  hateful 
words,  or  find  any  answer  to  my  enemies  ?    It  is  known 

185  far  and  wide  that  from  the  glorious  temple  of  the  Lord 
I  willingly  received  a  pure  maiden  free  from  sin,  and 
now  all  is  changed  by  I  know  not  what.  Neither 
speech  nor  silence  avails  me  aught.     If  I  declare  the 

190  truth,  then  must  the  daughter  of  David  perish,  slain 
with  stones.  Yet  is  it  harder  for  me  to  conceal  crime  ; 
as  a  perjurer  I  should  be  forced  to  live  thenceforth, 
hated  of  all  peoples,  despised  among  the  tribes  of  men.' 

195  Then  the  maid  unraveled  the  mystery,  and  thus  she 
spake  :  *  I  swear  truly  by  the  Son  of  God,  the  Savior 
of  souls,  that  I  have  never  yet  had  intercourse  with 

200  any  man  on  earth  ;  but  it  was  granted  unto  me, 
while  yet  young  in  my  home,  that  Gabriel,  heaven's 
archangel,  bade  me  hail,  and  said  in  truth  that  the 
heavenly  Spirit  would  shine  upon  me  with  His 
splendor,  and  that  I  should  bear  the  Glory  of  life,  an 

205  illustrious  Child,  the  great  Son  of  God,  the  bright 
King  of  glory.  Now  without  guilt  have  I  been 
made  His  temple  ;  the  Spirit  of  comfort  hath  dwelt 
within  me.  Do  thou  henceforth  forego  all  grievous 
care.     Give  eternal  thanks    unto    God's  great   Son 

210  that  I  have  become  His  mother,  though  still  a 
maiden,  and  that  thou  art  reputed  His  earthly  father 


THE   ADVENT.  9 

in  the  thoughts  of  men ;  thus  was  prophecy  to  be 
truly  fulfilled  in  Himself.' 

O  Thou  King  of  kings,  righteous  and  peaceful, 
Christ  almighty,   how  didst  Thou  spring  into  being  215 
with  Thy  glorious  Father  before  all  the  hosts  of  the 
world,  a  child  begotten  by  His  power  and  might  ! 
There    is    now  no  man  under  heaven,  no    hero    so 
exceeding  wise  and    prudent  that  he  can  relate  or  220 
truly  explain  to  the  ocean-dwellers  how  the  Guardian 
of  the  skies  took  Thee    in    the  beginning  for  His 
noble   Son.     Of   all   the   things   created   under   the 
welkin,  so  far  as  the  race  of  men1  hath  heard  among 
the  peoples,  first  did  the  wise  God,  Author  of  life,  225 
divide  in  majesty  the  light  from  the  darkness.      His 
was  the  power  of  decision,  and  the  Lord  of  hosts 
gave  this  command  :  *  Let  there  be  a  bright  light 
henceforth  for  ever  and  ever,  a  joy  to  all  living  men  230 
who  in  their  generations  shall  be  born.' 

And  straightway  it  came  to  pass  when  it  was  so  to 
be ;  a  light,  bright  amidst  the  stars,  shone  forth  for 
the  nations  of  men  after  the  lapse  of  time  ;  Himself  235 
ordained  that  Thou,  His  Son,  shouldst  be  co-dwelling 
with  Thine  only  Lord  before  aught  of  this  should 
ever   come    to    pass.     Thou   art   that  Wisdom  who 

1  Lit.  ■  nations.' 


IO  THE   ADVENT. 

24o  with  the  Lord  didst  frame  all  this  broad  creation. 
Wherefore  there  is  no  one  so  wise  and  prudent  that 
he  can  clearly  set  forth  Thy  parentage  unto  the  sons 
of  men.     Come  now,  O  Prince  of  victory,  Lord  of 

245  mankind,  and  graciously  show  Thy  favor  here  ;  we 
all  desire  to  understand  the  mystery  of  Thy  mater- 
nal   descent,   since  we  can  no  further    unfold  Thy 

250  paternal  lineage.  O  Savior  Christ,  by  Thine  advent 
graciously  bless  this  world,  and  the  golden  gate,1 
which  full  long  stood  locked  in  ages  past,  do  Thou, 
high  Lord  of  heaven,  give  command  to  open  ;  do 
Thou  visit  us,  coming  in  Thy  very  person  humbly  to 

255  earth.  We  have  need  of  Thy  help.  The  accursed 
wolf,2  that  dark  shadow  of  death,  hath  scattered  Thy 
flock,  O  Lord,  driven  it  far  and  wide  ;  those  whom  3 
Thou,  O  sovereign  Prince,  didst  redeem  with  Thy 

260  blood,  those4  the  evil  one  cruelly  oppresseth  and 
taketh  captive  against  our  will.5  Wherefore,  O 
Savior,  we  earnestly  pray  Thee  in  the  thoughts  of 
our  hearts  that  straightway  Thou  grant  help  unto  us 
unhappy  exiles  ;    that  the    baleful    destroyer6   may 

1  Lit.  'gates,'  and  so  321. 

2  Professor  Cook  calls  attention  to  Bugge's  theory  that  the  Fen- 
ris  wolf  of  Old  Norse  poetry  is  an  imaginative  reflex  of  the  Christian 
conception.  Cf.  The  Home  of  the  Eddie  Poems,  Grimm  Library, 
pp.  lvii,  lxxiii  ff.  3  Lit.  <  what.'  4  Lit.  '  that.' 

6  Lit.  '  contrary  to  the  longing  of  our  desires.' 

6  Lit.  '  slayer  of  torment ';  perhaps  =  '  slayer  dwelling  in  torment.' 


THE  ADVENT.  II 

fall  headlong  into  the  abyss  of  hell  ;  and  that  Thy  265 
handiwork,  O  Creator  of  men,  may  arise  and  come, 
as  is  fitting,  to  that  fair  heavenly  kingdom  whence 
the  dark  spirit,  through  our  love  of  sin,  erstwhile 
enticed  and  beguiled  us,  so  that,  stripped  of  glory,  270 
we  must  evermore  endure  misery,  unless  Thou,  Lord 
eternal,  living  God,  Protector  of  all  creatures,  wilt 
speedily  free  us  from  the  universal  foe.  ■ 

O    renowned    throughout    the    world,    purest    of  275 
women    upon    earth  of   those  who  ever  were  born, 
how  with  joyful    heart   do  all    men    endowed    with 
speech,  all  heroes  throughout  the  world,  rightly  de- 
clare and  say  that  thou  art  the  bride  of  heaven's  most  280 
excellent  King  !     Even  so  in  the  skies  the  highest 
retainers  of  Christ  proclaim  and  sing  that  in  thy  holy 
virtues 1  thou  art  queen  of  the  heavenly  host,  of  the  285 
ranks  of  men  under  heaven,  and  of  the  dwellers  in 
hell  ;  for  thou  alone  of  all  mankind  with  splendid 
courage  didst  resolve  to  bring  thy  virginity  unto  the 
Lord,  and  offer  it  up  without  sin.     No  ring-adorned  290 
bride  like  unto  thee  hath  since  come  among  men, 
bringing  in  due  time  with  pure  heart  that  fair  offering 
to  the  heavenly  home.     Wherefore  the  Lord  trium- 
phant bade  His  archangel  fly  hither  from  the  majesty  295 

1  Or,  '  powers.' 


12  THE   ADVENT. 

of  His  glory,  and  straightway  reveal  to  thee  the  ful- 
ness of  His  power,  that  thou,  Mary,  in  compassion  for 
mankind,  shouldst  bear  in  pure  nativity  the  Son  of 

300  God,  and  shouldst  keep  thyself  unspotted  for  ever. 
We  have  heard  also  that  long  ago  in  days  of  old  a 
righteous  prophet,  Isaiah,1  spake  concerning  thee, 
[saying]  that  he  was  led  where  he  fully  beheld  the 

305  mansions  of  life  in  the  eternal  abode.  Then  the 
wise  prophet  looked  out  over  that  region,  till  he  saw 
where  there  was  set  a  noble  portal.  The  towering 
gate  was  bound  all  about  with  precious  metal,  begirt 

310  with  wondrous  bands.  He  fully  believed  that  no 
man  unto  all  eternity  could  ever  lift  bars  so  firmly 
fixed,  or  open  the  fastening  of  that  city-gate,  until 

315  the  angel  of  God,  with  benign  purpose,  made  known 
the  manner  of  it,  and  spake  these  words:  'I  can 
declare  to  thee  the  truth  2  that  in  course  of  time  God 

320  Himself,  the  Father  almighty,  will  pass  by  the  power 
of  the  Spirit  through  this  golden  gate,  and  through 
these  firm  barriers  will  visit  earth ;  and  after 
Him  it  shall  for  evermore  remain  so  tightly  locked 

325  that,  save  God  the  Redeemer,  none  shall  ever  again 
open  it.' 

Now  is   that  fulfilled  which    the  wise  one  there 

1  Properly,  '  Ezekiel.' 

2  Lit.  '  that  it  has  truly  come  to  pass.' 


THE   ADVENT.  1 3 

looked  upon  with  his  very  eyes.    Thou  art  that  door ; 
through  thee  the  sovereign  Lord  once  issued  forth 
upon  this  earth,  and  even  thus  did  Christ  almighty 
find  thee  adorned  with  virtues,  pure  and  elect  ;  so  330 
also  did  the  Prince  of  angels,  Giver  of  life,  close  thee 
after  Him  with  a  key,  [still]  free  from  all  blemish. 
Show  now  unto  us  the  grace  which  God's  messenger,  335 
the  angel  Gabriel,  brought  to  thee.     Lo  !  the  dwell- 
ers in  cities    beseech  thee  that    thou  grant  to  the 
peoples  this  comfort,  even  thine  own  Son.     Hence- 
forth we  may  all  rejoice  with  one  accord,  now  that  340 
we  behold  the  child  [lying]  on  thy  breast.     Plead  * 
for  us  now  with  bold  words,  that  He  suffer  us  no 
longer  to  hearken  unto  error  in  this  valley  of  death, 
but  that  He  bring  us  to  the  Father's  kingdom,  where,  345 
free  from  sorrow,  we  may  thenceforth  dwell  in  glory 
with  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

O  holy  Lord  of  heaven,  Thou  wast  in  ages  past 
co-existent  with  Thy  Father  in  that  noble  abode  !  350 
There  was  as  yet  no  angel  created,  nor  any  of  the 
mighty  host  who,  in  the  heavens  on  high,  watch  over 
the  kingdom,  the  palace  of  the  Prince,  and  His  ser- 
vice, when  Thou,  together  with  God  eternal,  wast  355 
first  establishing  the  wide  creation,  all  these  spacious 
realms.     The   Holy   Ghost,  Spirit  of  comfort,  pro- 


14  THE  ADVENT. 

ceedeth  equally  from *  you  both.  O  Christ  Jesus, 
God  the  Savior,  humbly  do  we  all  beseech  Thee  to 

36o  hearken  unto  the  voice  of  these  captives,  Thy  bond- 
slaves, how  we  are  tormented  by  our  own  desires. 
Evil  spirits,  those  hateful  hell-fiends,  have  cruelly 
confined    us    wretched    exiles,   and   bound    us    with 

365  grievous  cords.  Relief  rests  in  Thee  alone,  O  Lord 
eternal.  Help  Thou  the  sorrowful,  that  Thine 
advent  may  comfort  the  miserable,  though  we, 
through   our   lust    for   sin,   have    waged    war   upon 

370  Thee.  Have  mercy  now  upon  Thy  servants,  and 
consider  our  woes  —  how,  feeble  in  spirit,  we  stum- 
ble here,  and  wander  miserably  about.  Come  now, 
O  King  of  men,  tarry  not  too  long.  We  have  need 
of  Thy  mercy  —  that  Thou  deliver  us,  O  righteous 

375  One,  and  grant  us  Thy  saving  grace,  that  henceforth 
we  may  ever  do  the  better  things  and  work  Thy 
will  among  the  people. 

O  Thou  glorious  heavenly  Trinity,  full  of  honor, 
380  high  and  holy,  blessed  far  and  wide  over  the  spacious 
plains,  rightly  should  those  endowed  with  speech, 
wretched  dwellers  on  earth,  praise  Thee  highly  with 
all  their  might,  now  that  God,  the  faithful  Savior, 
hath   revealed   unto   us  that  we    may   know    Him ! 

1  Lit.  •  is  common  to.' 


THE   ADVENT.  I  5 

Wherefore    the    righteous   band    of  seraphim,   with  38s 
glory  crowned,  ever  chanting  fervently  with  angels 
on    high,  in    unwearied    hosts    sing   adoringly  with 
voices  clear  and  sweet,  afar  and  near.     Theirs    is  390 
the  noblest  of  ministries  before  the  King.     Christ 
granted  them  that  with  their  eyes  they  might  enjoy 
'  His  presence,1  and,  clothed  with  ethereal  radiance, 
ever  worship  the   King  far  and  wide  ;    with  their 
wings  they  guard  the  presence  of  the  Lord  almighty  395 
and  eternal,  and  press  forward  toward  the  throne, 
eager  who  shall  hover  closest  to  our  Savior  within 
the  courts  of  peace.     They  praise  the  Beloved,  and  400 
in  splendor  speak  these  words  to  Him,  magnifying 
the  noble  Author  of  all  creatures  :  '  Holy  art  Thou, 
holy,  Lord  of  archangels,  righteous  King  of  victory ; 
O  Lord  of  lords,  ever  art  Thou  holy ;  ever  doth  Thy  405 
glory  dwell  with  men  on  earth,  magnified  far  and 
near  throughout  all  time.     Thou  art  God  of  hosts, 
for  Thou,    O   Shield   of    warriors,    Protector  of   all 
beings,  hast  filled  the  heavens  and  the  earth  with 
fche  majesty  of  Thy  glory.     Hosanna2  unto  Thee  in  4»o 
the   highest,  and  on  earth  praise,  renowned  among 
men.     Blessed  mayst  Thou  live,  Thou  who  in  the 


1  Cf.  Job  19.  26;  Ps.  17.  15;  Isa.  33.  17  ;   1  John  3.  2;  Rev.  22.  4. 

2  Lit.  ■  Eternal  praise ' ;  used  as  equivalent  to  '  Hosanna.'     Cf. 
Cook's  Biblical  Quotations  in  Old  English  Prose  Writers,  p.  164. 


1 6  THE   ADVENT. 

name  of  the  Lord  didst  come  unto  the  multitudes,  a 
comfort  to  the  wretched.     To  Thee  be  laud  eternal 
4i5  ever  in  the  highest,  world  without  end.' 

Lo  !  how  wondrous  is  the  change  in  the  life  of 
men,  that  the  gentle  Creator  of  mankind  took  from 
a  virgin  flesh  undenled  ;  she  knew  not  at  all  the 
embraces  of  man  ;  the  Lord  of  triumph  came  not  to 

420  earth  through  the  seed  of  man  ;  but  it  was  a  marvel 
greater  than  all  the  dwellers  on  earth  could  under- 
stand in^its  hidden  meaning,  how  the  Glory  of  the 
skies,  heaven's  high  Lord,  brought  help  to  mankind 

425  through  His  mother's  womb.  So  continually  the 
Savior  of  mankind,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  doth  each  day 
bestow  His  forgiveness  as  a  help  to  men.  Wherefore 
we,  eager  for  renown,  should  loyally  praise  Him  both 
\j  430  in  word  and  deed.  That  is  surpassing  wisdom  for 
every  man  who  hath  an  understanding  heart,  that  he 
ever   worship    God    most    sincerely    and    earnestly. 

435  Him  shall  the  hallowed  Savior  reward  for  his  love 
in  the  country  where  as  yet  he  hath  not  come,  in  the 
joy  of  the  land  of  the  living,  where  he  shall  dwell 
blessed  for  evermore,  there  henceforth  abiding  world 
without  end.     Amen. 


Part  II. — The  Ascension. 

Seek  thou  earnestly,  O  illustrious  man,  that  thou  440 
mayst  truly  understand  by  the  wisdom  of  thy  soul, 
deep  searchings  of  spirit,  how  it  came  to  pass  that 
the  angels  did  not  appear  in  robes  of  white  when  the 
Almighty  was  born  in  pure  nativity,  what  time  the 
Hero,  the  Prince,  came  to  Bethlehem,  having  chosen 
the  sanctuary  of  Mary,  flower  of  maidens,  the  virgin  445 
renowned.     Heralds  were  at  hand  who  spake  unto 
the  shepherds  and  proclaimed  in  words  the  true  joy —  450 
that  the  Son  of  God  was  born  into  the  world  in 
Bethlehem.     Yet  it  saith  not  in  Scripture  that  at 
that   great   tide   they  appeared   in   robes   of   white, 
as   they   afterwards   did  when  the   glorious   Prince,  455 
the   Lord   triumphant,    summoned    to   Bethany  His 
band  of  disciples,  that  company  beloved.     On  that 
joyful    day   they   despised    not    the   words   of   their 
Master,  the  Bestower  of  goodly  gifts.     Soon  were  46o 
they  ready,  the  heroes  with  their  Lord,  [to  go]  unto 
the   holy  city,   where    the   Dispenser   of   glory,   the 
King  of  heaven,  revealed  many  signs  unto  them  in 
parables,  before   the    only-begotten   Son,  co-eternal  465 

17 


1 8  THE   ASCENSION. 

■ 

with  His  own  Father,  ascended  on  high,  forty  days 
after  He  arose  from  the  dust  of  death.  Thus  through 
His  passion  had  He  fulfilled  the  words  of  the  prophets 

47o  as  of  old  they  had  sung  throughout  the  world.  The 
disciples  magnified  Him,  and  gratefully  adored  the 
Lord  of  life,  the  Father  of  all  created  things.  Where- 
fore to  His  beloved  comrades  gave  He  a  noble 
reward,  and  these  words,  spake  the  Prince  of  angels, 

475  the  mighty  Ruler,  as  He  was  about  to  depart  to  His 

/Father's   kingdom:    'Rejoice   in   spirit;    never  will 

I  forsake  you,   but  will  for  aye   continue  my  love 

toward  you,  granting  you  strength,  and  abiding  with 

you  for  ever  and  ever,  so  that  through  my  grace 

48o  ye  shall  know  the  lack  of  no  good  thing.  Go  forth 
now  over  all  the.  spacious  earth,  far-reaching  ways; 
declare  unto  the  multitudes,  preach  and  proclaim 
the  bright  faith  ;  baptize  the  peoples  beneath  the 

485  welkin,  turning  them  to  the  skies ;  destroy  the 
shrines  of  idols,  overthrow  them,  abhor  them  ;  blot 
out  enmity,  and  in  the  fulness  of  power  sow  peace 
within  men's  souls.  Henceforth  I  will  abide  with 
you  for  your  comfort,  and  will  everywhere  keep  you 

490  in  peace,  in  strength  unfailing.' 

Then  on  a  sudden  loud  music  was  heard  in  the 
sky ;  a  throng  of  heavenly  angels,  a  radiant  host, 
messengers  fr«.m  glory,  in  legion  cariie.     Our  King 


THE   ASCENSION.  1 9 

departed    through    the    temple's    roof    while    they  495 
looked  on  —  those  chosen   retainers  who  were  still  \ 
watching  in  that  place  of  conference  the  footprints 
of  their  beloved  Lord.     They  saw  their  Master,  the 
Son   of    God,  ascend  from   earth   to    heaven.     Sad 
were  their  souls,  hot  their  sorrowing  hearts  within  500 
their  breasts,  since  now  no  longer  might  they  behold 
beneath   heaven   the   One   so    dear.     The  heavenly 
messengers  raised  a  song;  they  praised  the  Lord, 
magnified    the    Author    of    life,    rejoicing    in    the 
light  that  shone  from  the  Savior's  head.     Then  saw  505 
they  two    glistening  angels,   fair   shining   in    their 
splendor   round    that    first-born   Son,   the   Glory   of 
kings.     From   on  high  they  called  with  wondrous 
words,  with  ringing  speech,  over  the  multitude  of 
men  :  *  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  wait  ye  thus  about  ?  510 
Ye  plainly  see    the    righteous    King,  the    Lord    of 
victory,  ascending  unto  heaven  ;  the  First  of  princes, 
the  Creator  of  all   peoples,  will  go  up  hence  with  515 
this  angel-band  to  His  dwelling-place,  the  Father's 
royal  seat.    With  such  a  throng,  with  this  joyful  host, 
shall  we  bear  the  Lord  —  the  noblest  and  best  of  all  520 
the  sons  of  glory  —  far  up  through  heaven's  vault 
unto  that   beautiful  city,  Him  x    whom  ye  now  gaze 

1  Possibly  fre  may  go  back  to  gedrykt  for  its  antecedent.     Cf .  the 
parallel  expression  in  line  570,  » 


20  THE   ASCENSION. 

upon    and    with   joy    behold    shining   in    splendor ; 
yet  shall  He  once  again  visit  the  nations  of  earth 

525  with  a  host  innumerable,  and  then  shall  He  judge 

every  deed  performed  by  mortals  beneath  the  skies.' 

Then  was  the  Lord  of  glory,  King  of  archangels, 

Protector   of    saints,   encompassed   with    clouds  far 

above  the  dwellings   [of  men].     Joy  and  gladness 

530  were  renewed  throughout  the  [celestial]  habitations 
at  the  coming  of  the  Prince.  The  eternal  Source  of 
joy  sat  down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Father,  rejoic- 
ing in  His  victory. 

To    Jerusalem,    the    holy  city,    went   the    valiant 

535  heroes  sad  of  heart  from  the  place  where  with  their 
eyes  they  had  but  now  beheld  their  God  ascending, 
the  Giver  of  joy.  A  fountain  of  tears 1  gushed 
forth ;  their  constant  love  was  overwhelmed  with 
sorrow,     hot    within    their    breasts;     their     hearts 

540  were  stirred,  their  souls  burned  within  them.  For 
full  ten  days  the  illustrious  disciples  awaited  in  that 
bright  city  the  promises  of  the  Lord,  as  Himself 
commanded,  the  King  of  heaven,  the  Ruler  of  all,  ere 

545  He  ascended  into  the  far  recesses  of  the  skies. 

1  Wdpes  hring — a  difficult  phrase  to  translate.  It  occurs  also  An. 
1 280 ;  El.  1 1 32 ;  Gu.  1 3 1 3.  Professor  Cook,  referring  to  Shelley,  Ado- 
naisXI.  4-5 ;  Browning,  By  the  Fireside  149-1 50,  suggests  as  a  possible 
interpretation  •  a  circling  fountain  of  tears,'  tear-drops  being  likened 
to  pearls  upon  a  string,  or  beads  in  a  necklace  or  rosary. 


THE   ASCENSION.  21 

Shining  angels  came  to  meet  the  Giver  of  bliss  to 
men.  True  it  is,  as  the  Scripture  relates,  that  at  that 
holy  tide  angels  resplendent  descending  from  the  sky 
came  unto  Him  in  legions.  Then  arose  great  rejoic-  550 
ing  in  heaven.  It  was  indeed  fitting  that  liegemen, 
a  radiant  host,  brightly  clad,  should  come  unto  that 
feast  in  the  city  of  the  Lord  ;  welcome  was  He 
whom  they  saw  [sitting]  on  His  throne,  the  King  555 
of  heaven,  Giver  of  life  to  men,  ruling  in  splendor 
the  whole  earth  and  the  angelic  host. 

'  Now1  hath  the  Holy  One  despoiled  hell  of  all  the 
tribute  which  of  old  it  wrongfully  swallowed  up  into  560 
that  place  of  strife.     Vanquished  now  are  the  devils' 
warriors,  brought  low  and  bound  in  living  torments, 
bereft  of  glory  in  the  abyss  of  hell.     His  adversaries2 
could  not  prevail  in  battle,  in  the  hurling  of  weapons,  565 
what  time  the  King  of  glory,  Guardian  of  heaven's 
realm,  waged  war  against  His  ancient  foes  by  His 
sole  might,  when  He  led  forth  from  bondage,  from 
the  city  of  fiends,  the  greatest  of  spoils,  a  countless 
multitude  of  people,  even  the  host  which  ye  here  570 
gaze  upon.     And  now  after  the  conflict  the  Savior 

1  Professor  Cook  interprets  this  speech  as  a  continuation  of  that 
which  ends  at  line  526.  At  first  it  is  the  disciples  who  are  addressed; 
at  line  575  it  is  the  ascending  host. 

2  Reading  wi&erbreocan  with  Cosijn. 


22  THE   ASCENSION. 

of  souls,  God's  own  Son,  is  minded  to  seek  the  throne 
of  spiritual  grace.     Thus  ye  may  understand  who  is 

575  the  Lord  that  leadeth  this  host.  —  Now  go  ye  forth 
boldly  to  meet  your  friends,  joyful  in  spirit.  Open, 
ye  gates  j1  through  you  the  King,  the  Ruler  of  all,  the 
Author  of  creation,  will  lead  into  the  city,  unto  the 

580  joy  of  joys,  the  mighty  host  which  He  hath  wrested 
from  the  demons  by  His  victory.  There  shall  be 
fellowship  between  angels  and  men  from  this  time 
forth  and  for  evermore.  There  is  now  a  covenant 
between  God  and  man,  a  sacred  pledge  —  love,  hope 

585  of  life,  and  joy  in  perfect  light.' 

*  Lo  !  we  have  heard  how  the  Christ-child  by 
His  advent  brought  again  salvation ;  how  He,  the 
Creator's  noble  Son,  freed  and  kept  men  beneath 
the  clouds,  so  that  now  each  mortal,  while  he  dwell- 

590  eth  here  in  life,  may  choose  either  the  shame  of 
hell  or  the  fame  of  heaven,  the  shining  day  or  the 
loathsome  night,  the  power  of  glory  or  the  pain  of 
darkness,  joy  with  the  Lord  or  wailing  with  demons, 

95  bliss 2  with  angels  or  torment  with  fiends,  either 
life  or  death,  whichsoever  he  preferreth  to  achieve 
while  body  and   soul  abide  in  the  world.     Where- 

>  *  From  Ps.  24.  7. 

2  Lit.  •  glory.' 


THE   ASCENSION.  23 

fore  let    blessing  and    eternal    thanks    be  unto  the 
glory  of  the  Trinity  ! 

It  is  meet  and  right  that  all  nations  should  give  600 
thanks  unto  the  Lord  for  every  blessing  which  now 
and    aforetime    He    hath    ever   bestowed    upon    us 
through    the    mystery    of    wonders    manifold.      He 
giveth   us    food   and    abundance    of    riches,   wealth 
throughout    the    broad    earth,     and    fair    weather  605 
beneath    the    shelter '  of    the    sky.      The    sun    and 
moon,   brightest    of    stars,    heaven's   candles,    shine 
for  all  men  on  the  earth.     Dew  and  rain  descend ; 
they  call  forth  plenty  for  the  nourishment  of  man,  610 
and    increase    the    riches    of    earth.      For   all    this, 
therefore,    we    ought    to    give    thanks    and    praise 
unto    our    Lord,    but    especially   for    the    salvation 
granted  for  our   joy,  when   by   His    ascension   He  615 
brought  to  end  the  misery  we  had  so  long  endured, 
when  the  only-begotten  King  settled  for  mankind  that 
greatest  of  feuds  with  His  beloved1  Father.     For 
our  soul's  peace  He  abolished  the  sentence  which  had 
been  pronounced  in  anger  to  the  woe  of  man  :  '  I  620 
created  thee  of  earth '; 2  upon  it  shalt  thou  dwell  in 
misery,  living  in  strife  and  suffering  torment,  chant- 
ing the   death-song   to    thy  foe's    delight;    and  to 

1  Or,  ■  own.' 

2  From  Gen.  3.  19. 


24     -  THE   ASCENSION. 

the    same    shalt    thou    turn    again,    teeming    with 

625  worms ;  thence  from  the  earth  shalt  thou  afterwards 
seek  the  fire  of  punishment.'  Lo !  this  [curse] 
did  the  Lord  abate  for  us  when  He  took  on  Him 
the  seed  of  man,  body  and  limbs.  When  the  Son 
of  x  the    Creator,   the    God    of   hosts,  was  about  to 

630  ascend  to  the  home  of  angels,  at  that  holy  tide 
there  arose  [in  Him]  the  desire  to  help  us  wretched 
ones. 

Concerning  this  Job  fashioned  a  song,  as  he  well 
knew  how ;  he  praised  the  Protector  of  men,  lauded 

635  the  Savior,  and  out  of  his  love  devised  a  surname 
for  the  Son  of  God ;  He  gave  him  the  name  of  Bird, 
which,  by  the  power  of  the  divine  Spirit,  the  Jews 
could  not  understand;   the  flight  of  that  Bird  was 

640  secret  and  hidden  from  His  enemies  on  earth,  from 
those  who  had  a  darkened  mind  and  a  stony  heart 
within  their  breasts ;  they  would  not  recognize  the 
glorious  miracles,  many  and  various,  which  the  noble 
Son  of   God  performed  before  them  on  the  earth. 

645  And  thus  the  beloved  Bird  essayed  flight :  now 
bold  and  strong  in  virtue  He  aspired  the  home 
of  angels,  that  fair  abode ;  now  through  the  Spirit's 
grace  He  sought  the  precincts  of  earth  and  wended 

650  His  way  to  the  world.     Of  Him  the  prophet  sang  r1 

1  Cf.  Ps.  8.  1;  18.  10;  47.  5. 


THE  ASCENSION.  25 

'  He  was  lifted  up,  high  and  holy,  in  the  arms 
of  angels,  in  the  fulness  of  His  power,  above  the 
majesty  of  heaven.'  They  who  made  denial  of  the 
ascension  could  not  perceive  the  flight  of  the  Bird,  655 
and  believed  not  that  the  Author  of  life,  the  Holy 
One,  in  the  likeness  of  man  was  lifted  up  from  earth 
above  the  heavenly  host. 

Then  He  who  created  the  earth,  God's  Spirit-son, 
honored  us  and  granted  us  gifts,  eternal  seats  amid  660 
the  angels  on  high  ;  moreover  He  sowed  manifold  wis- 
dom, and  planted  it  within  the  souls  of  men.      Unto 
the  mind  1  of  one,  through  the  Spirit  of  His  mouth,  665 
He  sendeth  wise  eloquence  and  noble  understanding; 
such  an  one  can  sing  and  speak  many  things  ;  unto 
his  soul  is  committed  the  power  of  wisdom.      One 
can   awaken   the  harp   before    warriors,  touching  it 
full    loudly   with    his    fingers.     One    can    set    forth  67o 
aright  the  law  divine.     One  can  tell  the  course  of 
the  stars,  the  expanse  of2  creation.      One  can  skil- 
fully write  the  spoken   word.     To  one  He  giveth 
victory   in   war,   when   bowmen   send   the   storm   of 
darts,  the  winged  arrows,  over  their  shields.    One  can  675 
boldly  urge  forward  his  bark  over  the  salt  sea,  and 
stir  the  raging  deep.     One  can  climb  the  steep  and 

1  Lit.  '  memory  of  his  mind.' 

2  Lit.  ■  wide.' 


26  THE   ASCENSION. 

lofty  tree.     One  can   fashion  the  sword,   the  well- 

680  tempered  weapon.  One  knoweth  the  compass  of 
the  plains,  the  far-reaching  ways.  So  to  us  the 
Ruler,  the  Son  of  God,  doth  dispense  His  gifts  on 
earth.  But  to  no  man  will  He  give  all  wisdom  of 
soul,  lest,  exalted  above  others  by  his  own  power, 

685  his  pride  work  him  evil. 

Thus  doth  God  almighty,  King  of  creation,  enrich 
the  progeny  of  earth  with  gifts  and  endowments 
manifold ;  so  also  He  bestoweth  glory  upon  the 
blessed  of  heaven ;  He  establisheth  peace  for  men 

690  and  angels  unto  all  eternity. 

So  He  honoreth  His  handiwork.  Concerning  this 
the  prophet  said1  that  holy  gems  were  lifted  up  on 
high,    the    sun    and    moon,   those    radiant    stars    of 

695  heaven.  What  indeed  are  those  gems  so  bright 
but  God  Himself  ?  He  is  the  Sun  of  righteous- 
ness, a  glorious  Light  to  angels  and  dwellers  on 
earth.  The  moon  shineth  over  all  the  world,  a 
spiritual  star;  even  so  the  Church  of  God  shineth 

700  brightly  through  the  union  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness —  as  the  Scripture  saith  —  since  the  Son 
of  God,  King  of  all  who  are  pure,  arose  from  the 
earth.      Before  that  the  church  of   the  law-abiding 

705  suffered  persecution  under  the  rule  of  heathen  shep- 

1  Hab.  3.  II,  according  to  the  Septuagint. 


THE   ASCENSION.  27 

herds.  Then  evil-doers  recked  not  of  the  truth  nor 
of  their  soul's  need ;  but  they  rent  and  burned  the 
temple  of  God,  they  overthrew  and  destroyed,  they 
wrought  deeds  of  blood.  But  after  the  ascension 
of  the  Lord  eternal,  triumph  came  to  God's  servants  710 
through  grace  of  the  Spirit. 

Of  this  sang  Solomon,  the  son  of  David,  ruler  of 
nations,  versed  in  the  hidden  things  of  song,  and 
these  words  he  spake  •}  'This  shall  be  made  known,  7«s 
that  the  Savior,  the  King  of  angels,  strong  in  might, 
shall  ascend  the  mountains,  leaping  the  lofty  downs ; 
He  shall  encompass  the  mountains  and  hills  with  His 
glory,  and  by  that  noble  leap  He  shall  redeem  the 
world  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  earth.' 

The  first  leap  was  when  He  descended  unto  the  720 
virgin,  that  spotless  maid,  and  took  on  Him  the  like- 
ness of  man,  yet  without  sin  ;  that  was  for  the  com- 
fort of  all  the  dwellers  on  earth.  The  second  leap 
was  the  birth  of  the  infant,  when  the  Glory  of  all 
glories,  in  the  likeness  of  a  child,  lay  in  the  manger  725 
wrapped  in  [swaddling]  clothes.  The  third  leap, 
the  bound  of  the  King  of  heaven,  was  when  He 
ascended  the  cross,  the  Father,  the  Spirit  of  comfort. 
The  fourth  leap  was  into  the  grave,  when  He 
came  down  from  the  tree,  [and  was  held]  fast  in  the 
1  Cant.  2.  8. 


28  THE   ASCENSION. 

730  sepulchre.  The  fifth  leap  was  when  He  cast  the 
host  of  hell  into  living  torment,  and  with  fiery 
fetters  bound  their  king  within,  that  fierce  spokes- 

735  man  of  fiends,  where  he  lieth  yet  in  prison,  fastened 
with  chains,  bound  by  his  sins.  The  sixth  leap  was 
the  joyous  revel  of  the  Holy  One,  when  He  ascended 
to  heaven,  unto  His  former  dwelling.  At  that  holy 
time  the  angel-band  grew  merry  with  joy  and  glad- 

740  ness.     They  saw  the  King  of  glory,  the  Chief  of 

princes,  come  unto  His  fatherland,  unto  the  bright 

mansions.     That  exploit  of  the  Prince  was  an  eternal 

happiness  to  the  blessed,  the  dwellers  in  the  City. 

Thus,  while  here  on  earth,  the  eternal  Son' of  God 

74?  leaped  boldly  over  the  hills  and  lofty  mountains. 
So  must  we  mortals,  in  the  thoughts  of  our  hearts, 
leap  from  strength  to  strength  and  strive  after  glory, 
so  that  we  may  rise  by  our  holy  works  to  the  high- 

750  est  summit,  where  are  hope  and  joy,  a  glorious 
band  of  liegemen.  We  have  great  need  to  follow 
after  salvation  with  our  hearts,  to  that  place 
where  we  earnestly  believe  in  our  souls  that  the 
Saviour-son,    the    living    God,    hath   ascended  with 

755  our  human  body. 

V  Wherefore  we  should  scorn  all  idle  lusts,  the 
wounds  of  sin,  and  rejoice  in  better  things.  We 
have  for  our  comfort  the  Almighty,  the  Father  in 


THE   ASCENSION.  29 

heaven.      The    Holy    One    on    high  will    send    His  760 
angels  hither  to  shield  us  against  the  deadly  arrow- 
flights  of   evil-doers,  lest  the  fiends  inflict  wounds 
upon  us,  when  the  author  of  evil  sendeth  forth  the 
bitter  arrow  from  his  bended1  bow  among  the  people  765 
of  God.     Wherefore  we  must  ever  be  warily  on  our 
guard  against    the  quick   shot,   lest   the   venomous 
point,    the   bitter  dart,  the  sudden   wile  of    fiends, 
penetrate  beneath  our  flesh.     Its  hurt  is  grievous,  770 
most  livid  of  wounds.      Let  us  then  keep  watch  and 
ward  while  we  abide  here  on  earth !     Let  us  beseech 
the  Father  for  protection  ;  let  us  pray  the  Son  of 
God  and  the  merciful  Spirit  that  He  who  gave  us 
life,  body,  limbs,  and  soul,  will  shield  us  against  the  775 
weapons  of  the  foe,  against  the  wiles  of  our  enemies  ! 
Praise  be  to   Him   for   ever,  glory  in  the   heavens      / 
world  without  end  ! 

None  of  the  race  of  men  on  earth  need  fear  the 
shafts  of  devils,  the  spear-flights  of  the  fierce  ones,  780 
if  God,  the  Lord  of  hosts,  protecteth  him.  The 
judgment  is  at  hand  when  we  shall  obtain  our 
reward,  according  as  we  have  ever  laid  up  for 
ourselves  by  our  deeds  on  the  broad  earth.  The  785 
Scripture  saith  how  in  the  beginning  the  Treasury 
of  glory,  God's  noble  Son,  descended  from  on  high, 

1  Perhaps  this  is  the  '  deceitful  bow '  of  Ps.  78.  57  ;  Hos.  7.  16. 


30  THE   ASCENSION. 

i       and  humbly  came  to  earth  into  the  virgin's  womb. 

790  Alas  !  I  expect,  yea,  and  fear  a  sterner  doom  when 
the  Prince  of  angels  cometh  again,  since  I  have  ill 
kept  those  things  which  the  Savior  bade  me  in  the 
Scriptures.  For  this,  as  I  account  truth,  I  shall 
behold  terror,  the  punishment  of   sin,  when   many 

795  shall  be  led  into  the  assembly  before  the  presence 
of  the  eternal  Judge. 

Then  shall  the  Courageous  1  tremble ;  he  shall 
hear  the  King,  the  Ruler  of  heaven,  speak  stern 
words  unto  those  who  in  time  past  ill  obeyed  Him 
on  earth,  while  as  yet  they  could  easily  find  comfort 

800  for  their  Yearning  and  their  Need.  There  in  that 
place  shall  many  a  one,  weary  and  sore  afraid, 
await  what  dire  punishment  He  will  mete  out  to 
them   for  their  deeds.     Gone  is  the  Winsomeness 

805  of  earth's  adornments.  Long  ago  the  portion  of  life's 
joys  granted  Us  was  compassed  about  by  Lake- 
floods,  our  Fortune  on  the  earth.  Then  shall  our 
treasures  burn  in  fire ;    bright   and  swift   shall   the 

1  The  large  type  denotes  the  runes  of  the  original  which  in  succes- 
sion spell  the  name  of  Cynewulf  (in  this  poem,  Cynwulf).  These 
renderings  (following  Gollancz  in  the  main)  are  partly  conjectural ; 
exactness,  where  that  was  possible,  has  been  sacrificed  in  favor  of 
the  proper  initials.  It  would  be  more  correct  to  substitute  bold  for 
courageotts,  misery  for  yearning,  joy  for  winsomeness,  sea  for  lake- 
floods,  wealth  for  fortune.  Cosijn  regards  the  letters,  C,  Y.,  and  N. 
as  forming  cyn  =  '  mankind.' 


THE   ASCENSION.  3 1 

red  flame  rage ;    fiercely  shall   it   rush  through  the 
wide  world.     Plains  shall  perish,  citadels  fall.     The  810 
fire  shall  be  all  astir;  pitilessly  shall  that  greediest  of 
spirits  waste  the  ancient  treasure  which  men  held 
of  old,  whilst  pride  abode  with  them  upon  the  earth. 

Wherefore  I  would  exhort  each  beloved  one  that  815 
he  neglect  not  his  soul's  need,  nor  be  dissolved  in 
vainglory,   while   God  wills   that    he   dwell  here    in 
the  world,   and  that  the   soul   journey  in  the  taber- 
nacle   of    the    body.  ^JEvery   man    should    bethink  s2o 
him  well  in  the  days  of  his  life  that,  according  to 
the  angel's  word,  the  Lord  of  might  first  came  to  us 
benignly.     He  will  be  austere  when  He  cometh  again, 
stern    and    just.      At    that   day   the   heavens    shall  825 
shake   and    the    mighty   ends    of   the    earth    shall 
tremble ;    the    bright    King  shall   requite  them  for 
living  on  earth  in  evil  deeds,  guilty  of  sin.     Where- 
fore  weary    in    soul    they    shall    long    suffer    fierce  830 
retribution    in    that    bath    of    fire,    hemmed    in    by 
surging  [flames].  *" 

When  the  King  of  hosts  shall  come  to  the  assem- 
bly with  an  innumerable  throng,  a  widespread  terror, 
the  outcry  of  the  lamenting,  shall  be  loudly  heard 
amid  the  sounds  from  heaven  ;  the  sorrowful,  trust-  835 
ing  but  little  in  their  works,  shall  wail  before 
the   face    of    the    everlasting    Judge.      Then    shall 


32  THE   ASCENSION. 

arise  a  terror  greater  than  was  ever  heard  of  on 

840  earth  from  the  beginning.  In  that  sudden  hour 
it  shall  be  far  dearer  than  all  this  fleeting  world 
unto  every  worker  of  iniquity  to  hide  himself  among 
the  victorious  band,  when  the  Lord  of  hosts,  Chief 

845  of  princes,  shall  adjudge  to  all  peoples,  both  friends 
and  foes,  their  just  reward.  O  great  our  need  that 
in  this  barren  time,  ere  that  horror,  we  earnestly 
bethink  us  of  the  beauty  of  our  souls ! 

850  Now  is  it  as  though  we  fared  in  ships  out  upon 
the  ocean,  over  the  waters  cold,  and  urged 1  our 
barks,  our  sea^steeds,  across  the  broad  flood.  A 
perilous  stream  it  is,  endless  waves  and  wind-swept 

855  seas,  on  which  we  toss  throughout  this  fleeting  world, 
over  the  fathomless  reaches.  Hard  was  our  life 
ere  we  sailed  to  land  over  the  stormy  main.     Then 

860  came  our  help :  God's  Spirit-son  guided  us  to  the 
haven  of  safety,  and  gave  us  grace  to  see,  over 
the  vessel's  side,  where  with  firm-set  anchor2  we 
should  moor  our  sea-steeds,  those  ocean-stallions  old. 
O  let   us   fix  our  hope  in    that    holy  haven  above, 

865  which  the  Lord  celestial  prepared  for  us  when  He 
ascended  into  the  heavens ! 

1  Lit.  'journeyed  on.' 

2  Lit.  '  fast  at  their  anchors.' 


Part  III.  —  Doomsday. 

Lo  !  at  midnight,  unawares,  the  great  day  of  the 
Lord  omnipotent  shall  mightily  overtake  the  dwellers 
on  earth,  the  bright  creation ;  as  oft  a  daring  robber,  87o 
a  crafty  thief,  prowling  about  in  darkness,  in  the 
murky  night,  suddenly  comes  upon  careless  men 
bound  in  sleep,  and  sorely  assails  them  unprepared. 

Then  together   unto   Mount  Zion  shall  ascend  a  875 
great  multitude,  radiant  and  joyful,  the  faithful  of 
the   Lord  ;    glory  shall  be  theirs.     Thereupon  from 
the  four  corners  of  the  world,  from  the  uttermost 
regions  of  earth,  angels  all-shining    shall  with  one  880 
accord    blow    their    crashing   trumpets  ;    the    earth 
shall   tremble   under   men.     Glorious  and   steadfast 
they  shall  sound  together  over  against  the  course 
of    the    stars,    chanting    in    harmony    and    making 
melody  from  south  and  from  north,  from  east  and    • 
from  west,  throughout  the  whole  creation ;  all  man-  8?s 
kind  shall  they  wake  from  the  dead  unto  the  last 
judgment;    they   shall   rouse    the    sons   of    men   all 
aghast  from  the  ancient  earth,  bidding  them  straight- 
way arise  from  their  deep  sleep.  ^  •* 

33 


34  DOOMSDA  Y. 

There  one  may  hear  a  sorrowing  people,  sad  of 
S90  heart  and  greatly  disquieted,  sorely  afraid  and  piti- 
fully bewailing  the  deeds  done  in  the  body.  This 
shall  be  the  greatest  forewarning  ever  shown  unto 
men  before  or  since.  There  all  the  hosts  of  angels 
895  and  of  devils  shall  mingle,  the  fair  and  the  swart ; 
there  shall  be  a  coming  of  both  the  white  and  the 
black,  according  as  an  abode  is  prepared  all  unlike 
for  saints  and  sinners. 

Then  suddenly  upon  Mount  Zion  a  blaze  of  the 

900  sun,  shining  clear  from   the  southeast,  shall  come 

forth  from  the  Creator,  gleaming  more  brightly  than 

the  mind  of  man  can  conceive,  when  the  Son  of  God 

shall  appear   hither  through  the  vault  of   heaven. 

y   All  glorious  from  the  eastern  skies  shall  come  the 

905  presence  of  Christ,  the  aspect  of  the  noble  King, 

gentle  in  spirit  toward  His  own,  bitter  toward  the 

wicked,  wondrously  varied,  diverse  to  the   blessed 

910  and  the  forlorn.     Unto  the  good,  the  host  of   the 

\J     holy,  He   shall  be   joyful  of   countenance,  radiant, 

winsome,  loving,   gracious,  and    fair.1      Sweet   and 

pleasant  shall  it  be  for  His    loved  ones,  for  those 

who  in  days  of  old  pleased  Him  well  by  their  words 

and  deeds,  to  gaze  upon  that  shining  face,  winningly 

915  benign,  upon  the  advent  of  the  King,  the  Lord  of 

1  lit.  'fair  in  joys.' 


DOOMSDAY.  35 

might.  But  unto  the  evil  and  wicked,  unto  those 
who  shall  come  to  Him  undone  by  sin,  He  shall  be 
terrible  and  awful  to  behold.  920 

That *  may  be  a  prophetic  2  intimation  to  him  who 
is  wise  of  thought,  that  he  shall  have  no  cause  what- 
ever to  be  afraid ;  he  shall  not  be  dismayed  in  soul 
at  the  terror  of  the  Presence,  when  he  beholdeth  the 
Lord  of  all  creation  approaching  with  mighty  won-  925 
ders  to  the  doom  of  many,  while  on  all  sides  press 
round  Him  a  band  of  angels,  a  shining  host,  legions 
of  the  saints  in  great  multitudes. 

The  vast  creation  shall  resound,  and  the  fiercest  930 
of  raging  fires  shall  sweep  over  the  whole  earth 
before  the  Lord;  the  fiery  flame  shall  hurtle;  the 
heavens  shall  burst  asunder ;  all  the  firm-set  flash- 
ing stars  shall  fall.  The  sun  itself,  which  shone 
so  brightly  above  the  former  world  for  the  sons  of 
men,  shall  be  turned  dark,  even  to  the  hue  of 
blood ;  the  moon,  also,  which  of  old  gave  light  for  935 
mortals  in  the  night  season,  shall  fall  headlong; 
and  the  stars  shall  be  hurled  from  heaven  by  the 
fury  of  the  storm-vexed  air.  940 

1  The  meaning  of  this  passage  is  somewhat  doubtful. 

2  The  usual  sense  of  wites  is  here  inappropriate.  I  have  accepted 
Professor  Cook's  suggestion  (cf.  his  note  on  line  182)  that  in  wites 
we  may  possibly  have  a  form  of  the  root  wit-,  as  seen  in  witga, 
'  prophet.' 


36  DOOMSDA  V. 

Now  shall  the  Almighty,  the  glorious  Prince, 
Creator  of  great  kings,  come  into  the  assembly  with 
His  angel  band.  An  exultant  host  of  His  retainers 
shall  be  there  also.     The  souls  of    the   blest   shall 

945  journey  with  their  Lord,  when  the  Protector  of  men 
shall  visit  the  nations  of  earth  with  dread  punish- 
ment. Then  throughout  the  broad  earth  shall  be 
heard  the  piercing  blast  of  the  heavenly  trump ; 
from  seven  quarters  the  winds  shall  rush,  blowing 

950  and  roaring  with  awful  crash,  rousing  and  blighting 
the  world  with  storm,  filling  with  terror1  the  whole 
creation.  There  shall  be  heard2 a  deafening  uproar, 
loud  and  violent,  heavy  and  appalling,  terrible  unto 

955  mortals,  of  all  tumults  the  mightiest. 

Then  the  cursed  hosts  of  men  shall  turn  in 
throngs  unto  the  all-embracing  flame,  and  living 
meet  the  deadly  blaze,  some  above  and  some 
beneath,   filled   with  fire.     Certain  is  it  that  there 

960  the  race  of  Adam  shall  lament,  a  joyless  people, 
full  of  sorrows,  afflicted  by  no  trifling  woes  but  by 
the  greatest  of  miseries,  what  time  the  livid  surging 

96s  of  fire,  the  dusky  flame,  shall  seize  far  and  wide  on 
all  three  at  once  —  ocean  with  its  fish,  earth  with  its 
mountains,  and  highest  heaven  bright  with  its  stars. 

1  Reading  fere  with  Cook.     Cf.  his  note  on  line  952. 

2  Lit.  'made  manifest' 


DOOMSDA  Y.  37 

Fiercely  and  cruelly  shall  the  destroying  flame  burn 
all  three  together.     At  that  dread  time  the  whole  970 
earth  shall  mourn,  and  be  sorely  troubled. 

Thus  shall  the  all-devouring  spirit,  the  ravaging 
fire,  overrun  the  earth  and  its  lofty  structures ;  the 1 
hot  and  greedy  blast,  famed  afar,  shall,  over  the  earth's 
plain,  fill  the  whole  world  with  the  terror  of  fire.  975 
The  city-walls  shall  fall  in  ruins.  Mountains  shall 
melt  away,  along  with  the  headlands  which  erstwhile 
firm  and  steadfast  stoutly  shielded  the  earth  from  98° 
ocean-floods,  bulwarks  against  the  waves  and  heaving 
waters.  Then  shall  the  death-fire  seize  on  every 
creature,  both  bird  and  beast ;  the  murky  flame,  a 
raging  warrior,  shall  stride  over  the  earth.  Where- 
soever the  waters  once  flowed,  the  hurrying  floods,  985 
there  the  fishes  of  the  deep,  cut  off  from  ocean,  shall 
be  consumed  in  a  bath  of  fire ;  every  sea-monster 
exhausted  shall  die ;  water  shall  burn  like  wax. 
There  shall  be  more  wonders  than  mind  of  man  can 
conceive  —  how  whirlwind,  and  tempest,  and  raging  990 
blast  shall  rend  the  broad  creation.  Men  shall  wail ; 
they  shall  weep  and  lament  with  mournful  voices, 
downcast  and  wretched,  overwhelmed  with  sorrow. 
The  swart  flame  shall  blaze  on  those  fordone  by 
sin ;  the  fire  shall  consume  the  golden  ornaments,  99s 

1  The  rendering  of  lines  973-4  is  somewhat  doubtful. 


38.  DOOMSDAY. 

all  the  ancient  treasure  of  the  kings  of  the  nations. 
There  amid  the  sounds  from  heaven  an  outcry  shall 
be  [heard],  wailing  and  lamentation,  the  strife  of 
the  living,  loud  weeping,  and  the  sad  plaint  of  men. 

1000  Herefrom  no  man  guilty  of  crime  can  win  refuge, 
or  anywhere  escape  from  the  flame,  but  that  fire  shall 
seize  on  all  things  throughout  the  earth ;  it  shall 
fiercely  delve  and  eagerly  explore  the  regions  of  the 

1005  world  within  and  without,  until  the  glowing  flame 
hath  wholly  purged  away  by  its  billowing  the  stain 
of  earthly  sin. 

Then  in  great  majesty  shall  God  almighty  come 
to  that  dread  mount ;  the  holy  King  of  heavenly 
angels,  the  Lord  omnipotent,  shall  shine  resplendent 

ioioupon  the  multitudes  ;  round  about  Him  shall  brightly 
gleam  a  most  goodly  throng,  holy  bands,  the  blessed 
company  of  angels ;  with  terror  of  the  Father  shall 
they  tremble,  dismayed   in  their   inmost    thoughts. 

1015  Wherefore  it  is  no  marvel  that  the  unclean  race  of 
men  should  greatly  fear  and  pitifully  lament,  since 
even  the  holy  race,  the  white  host  of  archangels, 
heaven-bright,  are  sore  affrighted  before  that  Pres- 

1020  ence,  what  time  the  radiant  beings  await  with  trem- 
bling the  judgment  of  the  Lord.  Most  terrible  of  all 
days  shall  that  be  in  the  world  when  the  King  of 
glory  shall  chasten  all  peoples  by  His  might,  and  bid 


DOOMSDA  Y.  39 

speech-uttering  men,   tribe  after  tribe,   arise  from  1025 
their  graves  and  come  every  one  unto  the  assembly. 

Then  shall  the  race  of  Adam  assume  flesh;  there 
shall  be  an  end  to  their  rest  and  sojourn  in  the  earth. 
At *  Christ's  coming  every  one  of  them  shall  arise  in  1030 
newness  of  life,  shall  take  on  body  and  limbs,  and 
again  be  made  young ;  he  shall  have  within  him  all 
the  good  or  evil  which  in  former  days  on  the  earth, 
in  the  circuit  of  years,  he  hath  treasured  within  his 
heart.  He  shall  have  together  both  body  and  soul.  io35 
The  aspect  of  his  works,  the  memory  of  his  words, 
and  the  counsel  of  his  heart,  shall  come  to  light 
before  the  King  of  heaven. 

Then  shall  the  race  of  men  be  increased  and  re- 
newed by  the  Creator ;  a  great  multitude  shall  ascend  1040 
unto  the  judgment  when  the  Author  of  life  shall  loose 
the  bonds  of  death.     The  air  shall  be  enkindled; 
the  stars  of  heaven  shall  fall ;  the  greedy  flame  shall 
ravage  far  and  wide.     Spirits  shall  depart  unto  their 
eternal    abode.      The    deeds    of    mortals    shall    beio45 
brought  to  light  throughout  the  world ;  in  no  wise 
can  men  conceal  their  treasures,  the  thoughts  of  their 
hearts,  before  that  Prince ;  deeds  shall  not  be  hidden 
from  Him,  but  on  that   great   day  the   Lord   shall  1050 
know  in  what  sort  every  man  hath  merited  eternal 

1  Lit.  '  before.' 


40  DOOMSDA  Y. 

life,  and  all  shall  be  revealed  that  they  have 
wrought  in  the  world  early  or  late.  Naught  of 
man's  thoughts  shall  be  concealed,  but  that  dread 

ioss  day  shall  bring  to  light  all  the  secrets  of  his  breast, 
all  the  meditations  of  his  heart.  He  must  bethink 
him  aforetime  of  his  spirit's  need,  who  would  bring 
to  God  a  radiant  countenance  when  the  hot  con- 
suming fire  maketh  trial  before  the  victorious  Judge 

1060  how  souls  have  been  kept  from  sin. 

Now  the  trumpet's  blast,  the  bright  ensign,  and  the 
hot  fire,  the  exalted  host,  the  company  of  angels,  the 
pang  of    terror,   the  stern  day,  and  the    high    rood 

1065  raised  aloft  as  a  sign  of  sovereignty,  shall  summon 
forward  the  multitude  of  men,  the  souls  of  all  who 
early  or  late  have  taken  upon  them  body  and  limbs. 
Then  that  mighty  host,  immortal   and   restored  to 

.o7o  youth,  shall,  eager  or  compelled,  as  they  are  called 
by  their  names,  pass  into  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
and  bear  before  God's  Son  the  secrets  of  their 
hearts,  the  treasures  of  their  souls.  The  Father 
will  perceive  whether  His  sons  bring  untainted  souls 

1075  from  the  land  in  which  they  dwelt.  They  shall  be  of 
good  courage  who  bring  unto  the  Creator  a  radiant 
countenance ;  their  might  and  joy,  the  glorious 
reward  of  their  works,  shall  be  exceeding  plenteous 
as    a    recompense    to    their    souls.     Well    is    it    for 


DOOMSDAY.  41 

them   who  at  that  dread  time   shall   be  acceptable  1080 
unto  God. 

There  shall  sinful  men,  sad  at  heart,  behold  the 
greatest  affliction.     Not  for  their  behoof  shall  the 
cross    of   our    Lord,    brightest    of    beacons,    stand  1085 
before    all    nations,    wet    with     the    pure    blood    of 
heaven's    King,    stained    with     His    gore,    shining 
brightly  over  the  vast  creation.      Shadows  shall  be 
put  to  flight  when  the  resplendent  cross  shall  blaze 
upon  all  peoples.     But  this  shall  be  l  for  an  affliction  1090 
and  a  punishment  to  men,  to  those  malefactors  who 
knew  no  gratitude  to  God,  that  He,  the  King,  was 
crucified  on  the  holy  rood  for  the  sins  of  mankind, 
on   that    day   when    He   whose    body   knew   no   sin  iog5 
nor  base   iniquity  lovingly  purchased   life  for  men 
with  the  price  with  which   He  ransomed  us.2     For 
all  this  will  He  rigorously  exact  3  recompense  when  noo 
the  red  rood  shall  shine  brightly  over  all  in  the  sun's 
stead. 

Fearfully  and  sorrowfully  shall  they  look  thereon, 
those  black  workers  of  iniquity,  fordone  by  sin ; 
they  shall  behold   to    their  bale    that  which  would  1105 

1  I  have  not  translated  the  geteod  of  line  1090;  it  is  inserted  by 
Grein  and  later  editors  solely  for  metrical  reasons. 

2  This  passage  may  be  corrupt.  Cf.  Cook's  Christ,  note  on  line 
1097. 

3  Reading  gemonian  with  Grein. 


42  DOOMSDA  Y. 

have  been  their  greatest  weal,  had  they  been  willing 
to  apprehend  it  as  their  good.  With  sad  hearts 
shall  they  behold  the  ancient  gashes  and  open  wounds 
upon  their  Lord,  where  His  foes  pierced  with  nails 

mo  the  white  hands  and  the  holy  feet,  and  let  forth  gore 
from  His  side  ;  blood  and  water  gushed  forth  together 
before  the  eyes  of  all  the  people,  when  He  was  on 

ni5the  cross.  All  this  they  themselves  shall  then  be 
able  to  see,  open  and  manifest,  how  He  suffered 
many  things  for  the  love  of  sinners.  The  sons  of 
men    shall    clearly    behold    how    the    false-hearted 

1120  denied  Him,  mocked  Him  with  blasphemies,  spat 
their  spittle  in  His  face,  and  spake  insults  against 
Him ;  how  hell-doomed  men,  blind  of  thought,  fool- 
ish and  erring,  struck  that  blessed  countenance  with 
their   hands,   with    their    outstretched    palms,   with 

"25  their  very  fists,  and  round  His  head  entwined  a 
cruel  crown  of  thorns. 

They  saw  that  the  dumb  creation  —  verdant  earth 
and  high  heaven  —  shudderingly  felt  the  sufferings 

ii30of  their  Lord;  and  though  they  had  not  life,  yet 
moaned  in  sorrow  when  wicked  men  seized  on 
their  Savior  with  impious  hands.  The  sun  became 
darkened,  obscured  by  misery.  In  Jerusalem  the 
people  saw  how a  that  choicest  of  tapestries,  which 

1  Reading  hu  with  Grein. 


DOOMSDA  V.  43 

the  throng  had  been   wont    to    look    upon   as    the 
glory   of   the    holy    house,  was    torn    asunder  from  1135 
the  top,  so  that  it  lay  on  the  ground  in  two  pieces ; 
the  veil  of  the  temple,  wrought  of  wondrous  colors 
for  the  adornment  of  that  house,  was  rent  of  itself  in 
twain,  as  if  a  sharp-edged  sword  had  passed  through  "40 
it.     Divers  walls  and  stones  throughout  the  world 
burst   wide   asunder;   the   earth,    stirred   by  terror, 
quaked  with  a  great  noise ;  the  broad  sea  showed 
forth   the   power   of    its   might,   and   fiercely   broke  ihs 
from  its  confines  over  earth's  bosom ;  and  the  stars 
in    their    beauteous    station    forsook    their    aspect 
sweet.     At    that    same  time  heaven   clearly  recog- 
nized who    had   nobly  made    it    bright  with    starry  1150 
gems    on    high ;     of    a    truth    it    sent    its    herald 
when    first    was    born    the    radiant    King    of    crea- 
tion.    Lo  !    on    that    same  day  on  which    He    suf- 
fered, even   sinful  men   saw   in   sooth   a  wondrous 
miracle  —  that   the   earth    gave   up   those    who    lay  1 155 
within  her  ;   they  rose   up  living,  those,   the  dead 
and   buried,   whom   she    had    firmly   confined,   even 
they  who  had  kept  in  their  hearts  the  Lord's  com- 
mand.    Hell,  the  sin-avenging,  also  perceived  that 
the  Creator,  the  sovereign  Lord,  was  come,  when  it  n6o 
gave   forth    that    host    from    its    hot    bosom  ;    the 
hearts  of  many  were  comforted,  and   sorrows  van- 


44  DOOMSDA  Y. 

ished  from  their  souls.  Lo  !  even  the  sea  declared 
who  had  set  it  on  its  broad  bed,  the  almighty  King, 

ti6s  for  it  made  itself  passable  unto  Him  when  God 
willed  to  go  over  its  waves  ;  the  water-flood  durst 
not    flow   with   its   billows    over    its   Master's    feet. 

i7o  Trees  likewise  many,  and  by  no  means  few,  declared 
who  had  shaped  them  with  their  branches,1  when 
almighty  God  ascended  one  of  them  and  suffered 
pain  for  men's  weal,  loathsome  death  for  the  help 
of  mankind.     Then  was  many  a  tree  suffused  with 

175  bloody  tears  beneath  its  bark,  red  and  frequent ;  the 
sap  turned  to  gore.  The  inhabitants  of  earth  cannot 
tell,  with  all  their  wisdom,  how  many  things  that 
have  no  feeling,  lifeless  things,  felt  then  the  Lord's 

180  sufferings.  The  noblest  of  the  races  of  earth  and 
heaven's  high  creation  — all  became  sad  and  dis- 
mayed for  that2  alone.  Although  by  their  nature 
they   had    no   understanding,    yet   miraculously   did 

,185  they  apprehend  when  their  Lord  departed  the  body. 
Blind-hearted  men,  harder  than  flint,  could  not  rec- 
ognize the  Savior,  nor  that  the  Lord,  God  almighty, 
had    saved   them    from    hell-torment    by    His    holy 

tigo  might.  From  the  beginning  of  the  world  far-seeing 
men,    prophets    of    God,    holy    and    wise    of   heart, 

1  Perhaps  'fruits,'  or  'blossoms.' 

2  Or    'them  '  or  'Him.' 


DOOMSDAY.  45 

not  once  but  oft  through  their  wise  understanding 
declared  unto  men  this  very  thing  concerning  the 
glorious  Son  —  that,  through  the  noble  maid,  He, 
the  Lord  of  glory,  the  Author  of  bliss,  the  Precious 
Stone,  should  become  a  refuge  and  comfort  to  all  1195 
men  in  the  world. 

What    can   he    expect    who    refuseth   to   keep   in 
mind  the  Savior's  gentle  precepts,  and  all  the  afflic-  1200 
tions    that    He    endured  for   men    because    of    His 
desire  that   we  should   possess   the   home   of   glory 
unto  all  eternity  ?     On  the  dread  day  of  that  great 
judgment,   sad  shall  it  be  for  him  who,  defiled  by  1205 
deadly  sins,  must  look  upon  the  scars,  the  wounds, 
the   sufferings   of   the   Lord.     With    aching    hearts 
shall  they  see  the  greatest  of  sorrows  ;  them  did  the 
King  Himself,  through  His  merciful  spirit,  redeem  1210 
from  sin  with  His  own   body,  that  they  might  live 
without  iniquity,  and  enjoy  the  eternal  blessedness 
of  glory  ;  but  they  gave  no  thanks  unto  their  Lord 
for  this  heritage,  wherefore  the  unhappy  ones  shall 
see  to  their  sorrow  signs  manifest  in  such  as  are  12.5 
good. 

When  Christ  shall  sit  on  His  royal  throne,  on 
the  high  seat,  then  shall  the  Father  almighty,  the 
radiant  Creator,  God  of  the  heavenly  hosts,  Ruler 
of    the    skies,    adjudge    righteously    to    each    band  1220 


46  DOOMSDA  Y. 

according  to  their  deeds.  Then  shall  be  gathered 
on  His  right  hand  the  folk  undefiled,  chosen  by  the 
election  of  Christ  Himself,  those  who  in  the  days 
of  their  life  have  faithfully  and  joyfully  obeyed  His 

1225  commandments ;  but  to  the  Creator's  left  side  shall 
be  assigned  the  workers  of  iniquity  :  the  righteous 
King  of  victory  shall  bid  the  sinful  host  depart 
unto  His  left  hand.     There,  detected,  they  shall  wail 

1230  and  tremble  in  terror  before  the  Lord ;  an  impure 
people,  foul  as  goats,  they  can  expect  no  mercy. 
Then  in  the  presence  of  God  shall  be  determined 
for  the  generations  of  men  the  doom  of  their  souls, 
according  as  they  have  wrought  erewhile. 

Three  signs  shall  there  be  visible  together  unto 

1235  the  blessed,  inasmuch  as  they  have  well  kept  their 
Lord's  will  in  word  and  deed. 

First  shall  appear  this  —  that  they  shall  shine  with 
light  before  the  nations,  with  glory  and  splendor  over 
the  habitations  of  cities;   their  former  deeds   shall 

1240  shine  upon  each  one  of  them  brighter  than  the  sun. 
The  second  shall  likewise  be  manifest  —  that  they 
shall  know  their  Sovereigp's  grace  in  the  bestowal 
of1  glory,  and  shall  see,  to  their  eyes'  delight,  that 

1245  they  may  possess  bright  joys  in  the  heavenly 
kingdom,  blessed  amid  the  angels. 

1  Cf.  Cook's  Christ,  note  on  line  1243. 


DOOMSDA  V.  47 

The  third   shall    be   that   the    happy   band    shall 
behold  the  lost,  that  host  of  burning  creatures,  suf- 
fering pain  in  the  misery  of  darkness,  as  a  punish- 
ment for  their  sins  —  raging  fire  and    the   bite    of  1250 
serpents  with   bitter   jaws ;   from   this   shall   spring 
up  a  winsome  joy  for  them.     When  they  shall  see 
others    suffer  the    evil   that    they  escaped    through 
the  Savior's   mercy,  they  shall   the  more  earnestly  ,255 
thank  God  for  the  bliss  and  happiness  which  they 
behold  —  that   He  hath  both  saved  them  from  per- 
dition and    granted    them   eternal    joys  ;    hell  shall 
be    locked    against   them,   the    kingdom   of   heaven 
shall  be  granted  unto  them.     This  shall  be  given  as 
reward  to  those  that  ever  faithfully  kept  the  Crea-  1260 
tor's  will  in  love. 

Far  different  shall  be  the  joy  of  the  others  ;  they 
can  see  in   themselves   too  many  woes  —  countless 
sins,    iniquities    aforetime    committed.     Tribulation  1265 
and  dire  evil  shall   cleave  unto  the  sorrowing  ones 
in  three  ways. 

One  is  that  they  shall  see  before  them  too  many 
miseries,  dread  hell-fire,  prepared  for  their  punish- 
ment,  in  which,   suffering  torment,   they  shall   for  1270 
aye  endure  damnation. 

There    shall    also    be    a    second    misery    for    the 
shame    of    the    sinful — that    the    lost    shall    suf- 


48  DOOMSDAY. 

fer  there  the  greatest  disgrace ;  the  Lord  shall  see 

1275  in  them  loathsome  sins  by  no  means  few  ;  so,  too, 
the  shining  band  of  heavenly  angels,  the  sons  of 
men,  all  the  dwellers  on  earth,  and  the  fell  fiend, 
shall  behold  the  power  of  darkness,  all  the  iniqui- 

1280  ties.  Through  the  body  they  may  see  the  grievous 
sins  in  their  souls  ;  their  sinful  flesh  shall  be  shame- 
fully transpierced,  as  if  it  were  clear  glass,  through 
which  one  may  most  easily  look. 

The   third  shall   be  a  sorrow  and  sore   grief  for 

i2.s5  the  wretched  —  that  they  behold  how  the  joyful,  the 
righteous,  rejoice  in  the  good  deeds  which  they,  the 
unhappy  ones,  scorned  to  do  while  days  were  still 
theirs ;   and  concerning  their  own  works  it  shall  be 

1290  a  grievous  tribulation  that  they  had  freely  wrought 
unrighteousness.  They  shall  see  the  better  ones 
shine  in  glory ;  their  own  misery  shall  not  be  their 
sole  punishment,  but  the  happiness  of  others  shall  be 
to  them  a  grief,  because  in  former  days  they  forsook 

1295  joys  so  fair  and  sweet, for  the  delusive  pleasure  of 
the  body,  the  vain  lust  of  the  sinful  flesh.  There, 
ashamed  and  distressed  by  their  ignominy,  they 
shall  wander  dizzily  about ;  they  shall  bear  their 
evil  works,  the  burden  of  their  sin ;  on  that  shall 

1300  the  people  gaze. 

Wherefore  it  had  been  better  for  them  had  they 


DOOMSDA  Y.  49 

felt  shame  before  one  man  for  every  evil  deed  and 
transgression,  had  they  told  God's  messenger  that 
they  knew  to  their  sorrow  the  sins  within  them. 
The  confessor  cannot  look  through  the  flesh  into  1305 
the  soul  [to  discover]  whether  a  man  speaketh 
truth  or  falsehood  concerning  himself,  when  he 
confesseth1  his  sins.  One  can,  however,  heal  every 
transgression,  every  unclean  sin,  if  he  but  tell  it 
to  one  man  ;  but  none  on  that  dread  day  can  con-  4«° 
ceal  the  crime  unatoned  ;  multitudes  shall  there 
behold   it. 

0  that  we  might  now  see  with  the  eyes  of  our 
body  the  deadly  iniquities  in  our  souls,  the  wounds 

of  sin,  the  wicked  thoughts,  the  impure  imaginings  !  1315 

No2  one  can  tell  another  with  what  eagerness 
each  should 3  strive  in  every  way  to  sustain  his  life 
and  anxiously  prolong  his  existence,  wash  away  the 
rust  of  sin  and  chasten  himself,  and  remove  the  132  ■ 
defilement  of  a  former  wound  during  the  brief  span 
of  life  here  below;  so  that  before  the  eyes  of  the 
dwellers  on  earth  he  may  enjoy  an  abode  among 
men,  blameless  and  unashamed,  while  body  and  1325 
soul  may  yet  dwell  together. 

1  The  usual  translation  of  bigdn  is  '  to  commit.' 

2  This  paragraph  seems  out  of  keeping  with   the   context ;   cf . 
Cook's  Christ,  note  on  line  1316. 

3  Lit.  ■  will.' 


50  DOOMSDA  Y. 

Now  must  we  look  sharply  and  earnestly  with  the 
eyes  of  the  heart  through  the  soul's  covering  upon 
the  sin  beneath.     With  our  other  eyes,  the  jewels 

i33o  of  the  head,  we  can  in  no  way  look  through  the 
seat1  of  thought  [to  see]  whether  good  or  evil 
dwelleth  within  each  one,  so  that  at  that  dread 
time  he  may  be  acceptable  unto  God. 

When  from  His   lofty  throne  the  high   King  of 

'335  heaven  shall  shine  in  glory,  with  a  dazzling  light, 
over  every  nation,  then  shall  He  first  speak  unto  the 
blessed,  before  the  angels  and  before  all  nations, 
and  graciously  promise  them  love  ;  He  shall  gently 

1340  comfort  them  with  H  is  holy  speech,  and  shall  pro- 
claim peace  to  them  ;  He  shall  bid  them  depart  safe 
and  sanctified  to  the  land  of  angels'  bliss,  and  joy- 
fully possess  it  world  without  end  : 

'  Receive  ye  now  with  friends  my  Father's  king- 
dom, the  bliss  and   the  glory  and    the  fair  beauty 

1345  of  that  home  which  was  joyfully  prepared  for  you 
before  all  ages,  against  the  time  when  with  the  best 
beloved  ye  might  behold  the  riches  of  life  eternal, 
the  precious  joys  of  heaven.     This  indeed  ye  mer- 

1350  ited  when  with  compassionate  hearts  ye  willingly 
received  the  poor  and  needy.  When  in  my  name 
they  humbly  besought  mercy  of  you,  then  did  ye  help 

1  Lit.  'soul.' 


DOOMSDA  Y.  5 1 

them  and  give  them  shelter,  bread  to  the  hungry  and 
clothing  to  the  naked ;  those  that  lay  sick  in  pain,  1355 
grievously  suffering,  bound  by  disease,  ye  gently 
strengthened  in  spirit  with  the  affection  of  your 
hearts.  For  me  ye  did  all  this  when  ye  sought 
them  in  love,  and  with  consolation  stayed  their 
spirits.  For  this  shall  ye  long  enjoy  a  fair  reward  1360 
with  my  loved  ones.' 

Then  with  far  different  words,  with  fearful 
menace,  shall  God  almighty  begin  to  address  the 
evil  ones  on  His  left  hand.  They  need  not  then  1365 
expect  mercy  from  the  Lord,  neither  life  nor 
grace,  but  recompense  for  their  words  and  deeds 
shall  fall  to  men,  to  those  endowed  with  speech, 
according  to  their  works ;  they  shall  suffer  the  one 
righteous  doom,  full  of  terror.  On  that  day  the  1370 
great  compassion  of  the  Almighty  shall  be  with- 
drawn from  the  dwellers  on  earth,  when  with  bitter 
words  He  fiercely  chargeth  their  sins  upon  the 
stubborn-hearted,  and  commandeth  them  to  render 
account  of  the  lives  wjiich  He  had  given  the  sinful  1375 
for  their  weal.  Then  shall  the  Lord  almighty  begin 
to  speak  as  if  to  one  alone,  and  yet  shall  He  mean 
the  whole  band  of  the  sinful : 

'  Lo !    I   wrought  thee,   O   man,  of  old  with   my 
hands,  and  gave  thee  understanding  ;  I  formed  for  1380 


52  DOOMSDAY. 

thee  limbs  of  clay  and  gave  thee  a  living  spirit ; 
I  honored  thee  above  all  creatures,  and  caused 
thee  to  have  form  and  aspect  like  unto  myself ; 
I  gave  thee  fulness  of  power  and  wealth  over 
all    spacious    lands ;    thou    knewest    naught  of   the 

1385  woe  and  darkness  that  thou  wast  to  suffer.  Yet 
for  this  thou  wast  not  grateful.  When  I  had 
shaped  thee  so  beautiful  and  winsome,  and  had 
given  thee  power  that  thou  mightst  rule  over  the 
creatures  of    earth,   I    set  thee   in   the   fair  region 

1390  to  enjoy  the  rich  luxuriance  and  bright  hues  of 
Paradise ; 1  thou  wouldst  not  obey  the  word  of  life, 
but  at  the  bidding  of  thy  destroyer  didst  break 
my   commandment ;   thou   didst   rather  hearken   to 

1395  the  wily  foe,  the  perfidious  fiend,  than  to  thy 
Creator.  Now  will  I  pass  over  that  ancient  tale, 
how  thou  didst  first  devise  evil  and  didst  lose  by 
thy  wicked  deeds  what  I  had  granted  thee  for  thy 
weal.     When  I   had   bestowed  upon  thee  so  many 

1400  blessings,  and  when  to  thy  mind  it  seemed  too  little 
happiness  unless  thou  mightst  have  fulness  of 
power  equal  to  God's,  then  to  thy  foes'  delight  didst 
thou  become  estranged  from  that  joy,  cast  out  afar; 
sad  of  heart,  cheerless  and  sinful,  deprived  of  all 

1405  blessings   and  joys,  thou  wast  forced    to    give  up 

1  Somewhat  freely  rendered. 


DOOMSDAY.  53 

i 
the  glory  of  Paradise,   the.  abode   of    spirits ;    thou 

wast  driven  into  the  dark  world,  where  long  there- 
after thou  didst  suffer  great  hardships,  sorrow  and  1410 
grievous  toil,  and  swart  death,  and  after  thy  depar- 
ture, bereft  of  helpers,  wast  doomed  to  fall  headlong 
down  to  hell. 

'Then  it  began  to  repent  me  that  my  handiwork 
should  fall  into  the  power  of  fiends,  that  the  off-  1415 
spring  of  man  should  see  destruction,  should  learn 
to  know  an  inhospitable  abode  and  sore  vicissitudes. 
Thereupon  I  myself  descended  as  a  child  into  my 
mother,  yet  her  virginity  was  wholly  inviolate.  I  1420 
was  the  Only-begOtten  for  the  help  of  men.  With 
their  hands  they  swathed  me,  wrapped  me  in  the  gar- 
ments of  the  poor,  and  laid  me  in  darkness,  wound 
about  with  sable  raiment.  Lo  !  this  I  endured  for 
the  world  !  Little  did  I  seem  unto  the  sons  of  men  ; 
on  the  hard  stone  I  lay,  a  young  child  in  the  1425 
manger,  in  order  that  I  might  put  away  from  thee  the 
torment  and  hot  misery  of  hell ;  that  thou  mightst 
shine  holy  and  blessed  in  life  eternal,  for  that  I 
suffered  the  pain. 

'  It  was   not   out  of  pride,   but    in    my  youth    I 
endured  suffering  and  shameful  pain  of  body  that 
through  it  I  might  become  like  unto  thee,  and  that  i430 
thou,  freed  from   sin,  mightst   become  like  me   in 


54  DOOMS  DA  Y. 

aspect ;  because  of  my  love  for  man,  my  head  bore 
the  grievous  blow.     Nor  was  my  face  spared  : 1  often 

1435  my  countenance  received  spittle  from  the  mouths 
of  the  impious,  the  workers  of  iniquity.  They 
cruelly  mixed  for  me  a  sour  drink  of  vinegar  and 
gall.     For   mankind's    sake    I    endured    the  hatred 

1440  of  foes ;  they  pursued  me  with  outrages  —  they 
shrank  not  from  deadly  hostility  —  and  smote  me 
with  scourges.  All  that  pain,  scorn,  and  abuse,  I 
humbly  bore  for  thee.     About  my  head  they  wound 

1445  a  sharp  and  cruel  crown,  and  pitilessly  pressed  it 
on ;  of  thorns  was  it  wrought.  Then  was  I  hanged 
upon  a  lofty  tree,  fastened  to  a  cross.  And  straight- 
way with  a  spear  they  let  forth  from  my  side  blood 
and    gore    upon    the    earth,    that    through    it    thou 

1450  mightst  be  saved  from  the  devil's  tyranny.  Sinless, 
I  suffered  punishment  and  sore  torment,  until  I  gave 
up  from  my  body  the  living  ghost.  Behold  now 
the  deadly  wounds  which  they  made  in  my  hands 

145s  and  feet,  by  which  I  hung  there,  cruelly  fastened  ; 
here  canst  thou  also  s*ee,  still  visible,  the  bloody 
wound  in  my  side. 

'  How    unequal    was    the    reckoning    betwixt    us 

1460  two  !  I  bore  thy  pain  that  thou,  happy  and  blessed, 
mightst  possess  my  kingdom ;  and  by  my  death  I 

1  Lit.  '  My  face  suffered,' 


DOOMSDA  Y.  55 

dearly  bought  long  life  for  thee,  that  thenceforth 
thou  mightst  dwell  in  light,  radiant  and  free  from 
sin.  My  body,  which  had  harmed  no  man,  lay  I465 
buried  in  the  earth,  hidden  beneath  in  the  tomb, 
that  thou  mightst  dwell  in  splendor  in  the  skies 
above,  mighty  amid  the  angels. 

*  Why  didst  thou  forsake  that  glorious  life  which 
out  of  love  I  graciously  bought  for  thee  with  my  1470 
body,  as  a  help  to  the  wretched  ?     Thou  wast   so 
witless  that  thou  didst  not  render  thanks  unto  the 
Lord  for  thy  redemption.     Naught  demand  I  now 
for  that  bitter  death  which  I  suffered  for  thee ;  but  i475 
do  thou  give  unto  me  thy  life,  for  which,  in  martyr- 
dom, I  once  gave  up  mine  own  as  ransom ;  I  claim 
that  life  which  thou  to  thine  own  disgrace  hast  sin- 
fully destroyed  by  thy  transgressions.     Why  didst 
thou,  through  evil  lusts  and  foul  sin,  wilfully  defile 
that  tabernacle  which  I  consecrated  in  thee  as  my  I48o 
sweet 1  home  of  joy  ?     Yea,  working  iniquity,  thou 
didst  shamefully  pollute  the  body  which  I  redeemed 
for  myself  from  the  power  of  fiends,  and  then  for-  i48S 
bade  it   sin.     Why  hast  thou  crucified  me  on  the 
cross  of  thy  hands  more  painfully  than  when  I  hung 
of  old  ?     O,  this  one,  methinks,  is  more  grievous  ! 
Now  is  the  cross  of  thy  sins,  on  which  I  am  bound  i49o 

1  Or,  '  own.' 


56  DOOMSDAY. 

unwillingly,  more  bitter  to  me  than  was  that  other 
which  I  ascended  of  my  own  free  will,  what  time  thy 
misery  grieved  my  heart  most  sorely,  when  I  drew 
thee  forth  from  hell  —  if  only  thou  hadst  been  will- 
ing to  hold  to  it  henceforth  ! 

•495  *  I  in  this  world  was  poor,  that  thou  mightst  be 
rich  in  heaven ;  I  was  wretched  in  thy  homeland, 
that  thou  in  mine  mightst  be  blessed.  Yet  for  all 
this  thou  wast  in  no  wise  grateful  in  soul  unto  thy 
Savior. 

•  I  commanded  you  that   ye   should   cherish  well 

i5oo  my  brethren  in  this  earthly  kingdom,  and  help  the 
needy  with  those  possessions  which  I  gave  to  you  on 
earth.  Ill  have  ye  performed  it ;  ye  have  forbidden 
the  poor  to  enter  beneath  your  roof,  and  with  hard 

1505  hearts  have  denied  them  everything  —  raiment  to 
the  naked,  food  to  the  hungry.  Though,  weary  and 
feeble,  distressed  for  -drink,  void  of  all  sustenance 
and  parched  with  thirst,  they  prayed  for  water  in  my 
name,  ye  did  insolently  deny  them.     Ye  sought  not 

1510  out  the  sorrowful,  nor  spake  to  them  a  kindly  word 
of  comfort,  that  they  might  pluck  up  a  more  buoy- 
ant spirit  within  their  breasts.  All  this  ye  did  in 
scorn  of  me,  the  King  of  heaven.  Wherefore  ye 
shall  endure  sore  punishment  for  ever,  suffering 
torment  with  demons.' 


DOOMSDAY.  57 

Then  over  them  all,  over  the  doomed  folk,  the  1515 
Lord  of  victories  shall  Himself  send  forth  a  dread 
decree,   full   of  tribulation  —  He    shall    say  to   the 
host  of  sinful  souls  : 

1  Depart 1  now,  accursed,  by  your  own  wills  dis- 
possessed of  the  angels'  joy,  into  everlasting  fire,  1520 
hot  and  fierce,  which  was  prepared  for  Satan  and 
his  followers,  for  the  devil  and  his  black  crew ;  into 
that  shall  ye  fall  headlong.'  Nor  can  they,  bereft 
of  resource,  disregard  the  command  *  of  heaven's  1525 
King;  those  who  erstwhile  strove  against  God  shall 
straightway  fall  into  that  horrid  abyss.  Then  shall 
the  Lord  of  sovereign  sway  be  stern  and  mighty, 
terrible  and  full  of  wrath.  No  foe  upon  this  earth 
can  then  abide  His  presence. 

x  With  His  right  hand  shall  He  swing  the  victor-  1530 
sword  so  that  the  devils  shall  fall  down  into  the 
deep  pit,  the  sinful  band  into  the  dusky  flame,  the 
fated  spirits  beneath  earth's  surface,  the  corrupt 
and  damned  crew  to  perdition  in  the  abode  of 
fiends,  the  house  of  torment,  the  death-hall  of  the  1535 
devil.  Thereafter  they  shall  in  no  wise  come  to  the 
remembrance  of  the  Lord ;  they  shall  not  escape 
from  sin,  but,  guilty  of  crimes,  wrapped  in  flame, 
they  shall  there  suffer  death.     The  punishment  for 

1  With  evident  reference  to  Matt.  25.  41. 


58  DOOMSDAY. 

1540  transgression  shall  stand  revealed  before  them  ;  it  is 
torment  everlasting.  Never  can  the  burning  abyss 
in  that  eternal  night  purge  away  the  sin  of  the 
dwellers  in  hell,  the  stain  of  their  souls ;  but  the 
deep,  bottomless  pit  shall  feed  the  disconsolate,  and 

'545  hold  the  spirits  in  darkness  ;    it  shall  burn  them  with 
its  ancient  flame  and  with  its  terrible  frost ;  it  shall 
afflict  the  multitudes  with  hateful  serpents,  with  count- 
less torments,  with  jaws  deadly  and  terrible. 
^  Of  this  may  we  be  certain,  with  one  voice  may  we 

t$y>  speak  and  truly  declare,  that  he  hath  lost  his  soul's 
keeper,  the  wisdom  of  life,  who  heedeth  not  now 
whether  his  spirit  is  to  be  sad  or  joyous  in  that 
place  where  after  death  it  shall  abide  for  ever.     He 

'555  feareth  not,  rash  man,  to  commit  sin,  nor  hath  he 
aught  of  regret  within  his  soul  lest  because  of  his 
misdeeds  the  Holy  Spirit  should  depart  from  him  in 
this  fleeting  time. 

Then  the  sinner,  black  and  guilty  of  death,  cursed 

I56o  for  his  crimes,  shall  stand  trembling  before  the  Lord 
at  the  judgment ;  the  transgressor,  unworthy  of  eter- 
nal life,  shall  be  filled  with  fire,  and  overwhelmed 
with  terror  in  the  presence  of  God ;  ghastly  and 
hideous,  he  shall  have  the  hue  of  the  damned,  the 

1565  sign  of  a  life  of  guilt.  Then  shall  the  sons  of 
iniquity  pour  out  their  tears  and  bewail  their  sins, 


DOOMSDA  Y.  59 

when  the  time  is  past ;  but  too  late  shall  they  seek 
help  for  their  souls,  for1  the  Lord  of  hosts  will  not 
heed   how   the   doers    of   evil    sorely   bewail    their 
ancient  treasures  at  that  all-revealing  time.     That  1570    y 
sorrowful  season  will  not  be  granted  to  the  peoples^^ 
in  order  that  he  who  obtaineth  not  his  life's  redemp- 
tion while  dwelling  here  may  there  find  salvation. 
There  no  grief  shall  be  shown  to  the  good,  nor  weal  1575 
to    the  wicked ;    but    each    one  shall    bring   before 
[God]  his  own  work. 

Therefore  he  who  desireth  to  have  life2  with  the 
Creator  should  bestir  himself  while  body  and  spirit 
are  joined  together.  Let  him  zealously  foster  the  1580 
beauty  of  his  soul  according  to  God's  will,  and  be 
careful  in  word  and  deed,  in  thought  and  conduct, 
while  this  world,  speeding  with  its  shadows,  may 
still  shine  for  him ;  so  that  he  lose  not  in  this  1585 
fleeting  time  the  blessedness  of  his  joy  and  the 
fulness  of  his  days,  the  beauty  of  his  work  and  the 
reward  of  glory,  which  the  righteous  King  of  heaven 
shall  give  at  that  holy  tide  as  a  meed  of  victory  to 
those  who  in  spirit  obey  Him  with  gladness.  i&° 

Then  shall  heaven  and  hell  be  fulfilled  with  the 
sons  of  men,  with  the  souls  of  mortals.  The  deeps 
shall  swallow  God's  adversaries  ;  tossing  flame  shall 

1  Lit.  '  when,'  2  Reading  lie  with  Grein. 


60  DOOMSDA  V. 

1595  harass  wicked  men,  those  arch-malefactors,  and  shall 
not  let  them  depart  thence  in  joy  to  a  place  of 
safety;  but  the  fire  shall  hold  the  multitude  fast, 
and  vex  the  sons  of  iniquity.  Foolhardy  methink- 
eth  it  that  beings  endowed  with  souls  should  take 

1600  no  heed,  when  they  commit *  sin,  what  the  Lord 
hath  prescribed  as  penalty  for  them,  the  people  of 
his  foes/  When  life  and  death  shall  devour  souls, 
the  house  of  torment  shall  stand  open  and  revealed 

1605  before  the  perjurers,  and  sinful  men  shall  fill  it  with 
their  black  souls.  Then  as  a  punishment  for  iniquity 
the  guilty  host  shall  be  cut  off,  the  base  from  the 
holy,  unto  terrible  destruction.     There  thieves  and 

1610  robbers,  the  lying  and  adulterous,  need  not  hope  for 
life,  and  the  forsworn  shall  see  retribution  for  sin, 
severe  and  awful.  Then  shall  hell  receive  the  host 
of  the  faithless,  and  the  Lord  shall  give  them  over 
to    the    fiends    unto    perdition ;    the    damned    shall 

1615  suffer  mortal  agony  most  grievous.  Wretched  shall 
he  be  who  chooseth  to  deserve  by  his  transgressions 
that  at  the  judgment  day  he  shall  be  separated  as  a 
guilty  man  from  his  Savior  unto  death  below,  among 

1620  the  hosts  of  hell,  in  the  hot  fire,  beneath  barriers  of 
flame  ;  there  shall  they  stretch  forth  their  limbs  to 
be  bound,  and  burned,  and  scourged,  as  a  punishment 

1  Reading  fremmafr  with  Grein. 


DOOMSDAY.  6 1 

for  sin.  Then  the  Holy  Ghost,  through  the  power 
of  God,  shall  at  the  King's  command  lock  up  hell, 
chiefest  of  all  the  houses  of  torment,  filled  with  fire  1625 
and  the  host  of  fiends.  That  is  the  greatest  of 
agonies  for  both  devils  and  men.  It  is  a  joyless 
abode.  There  none  can  ever  escape  from  the  cold 
fetters.  They  broke  the  King's  command,  the  sub- 
lime precept  of  the  Scriptures ;  wherefore  those  1630 
who  here  scorned  the  glory  *•  of  the  heavenly  realm 
must  dwell  in  eternal  night,  and,  guilty  of  sin, 
thenceforth  endure  their  everlasting  pain.  J^ 

But   the   elect    shall    bring   before   Christ   bright 
treasures ;    their    glory   shall  live   at   the   judgment  1635 
day  ;  they  shall  possess  the  joy  of  a  tranquil  life  with 
God,  such  as  is  granted  unto  every  saint  in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven.     That  is  the  home  which  shall  have 
no  end,  and  there   for  evermore  the  sinless    shall  i64o 
possess  their  joy,  and,  clothed  with  light,  enfolded 
in  peace,   shielded  from  sorrows,   honored   by  joys, 
endeared  to  the  Savior,  shall  praise  the  Lord,  the 
beloved  Protector  of  life ;   radiant  with  grace  they 
shall  enjoy  in   bliss  the  fellowship  of  angels,   and  i645 
worship  the   Guardian   of   men  for  ever  and   ever. 
The  Father  of  all  shall  have  and  hold  dominion  over 
the  hosts  of  the  sanctified. 

1  Or,  perhaps,  *  Lord.' 


62  DOOMSDA  Y. 

There  is  song  of  angels,  joy  of  the  blest ;  there 
1650  is  the  dear  presence  of  the  Lord,  brighter  than 
the  sun  unto  the  blessed ;  there  is  the  love  of 
dear  ones ;  life  without  death ;  a  joyous  multitude 
of  men ;  youth  without  age ;  the  glory  of  the 
heavenly  hosts ;  health  without  pain ;  rest  with- 
•655  out  toil  for  the  workers  of  righteousness ;  bliss  of 
the  happy ;  day  without  darkness,  bright  and  glad- 
some ;  happiness  without  sorrow ;  harmony  without 
strife  'twixt  friends  rejoicing  in  heaven ;  peace 
without  enmity  in  the  congregation  of  the  saints. 
1660  No  hunger  shall  be  there,  nor  thirst,  nor  sleep,  nor 
sore  disease,  nor  scorching  of  the  sun,  nor  cold, 
nor  care ;  but  there  the  company  of  the  blest,  most 
radiant  of  hosts,  shall  for  aye  enjoy  the  grace  of 
their  King  and  glory  with  their  Lord. 


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